Fukushima begins 20th batch of treated water release, 7,800 tons expected over 19 days

The Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC) stated that Japan's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant began its 20th batch of treated water release today. The operation is expected to discharge 7,800 tons over 19 days, with a total tritium activity estimated at approximately 1.3 trillion becquerels. The NSC released a statement noting that Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) published analysis results on May 28, showing the sum of ratios of radionuclide concentrations to regulatory limits (excluding tritium) was 0.45, meeting the safety criteria of less than 1. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and international experts also indicated that Japan's discharge equipment and monitoring comply with international safety standards. The NSC reported that since the first release on August 24, 2023, a total of 149,020 tons of treated water have been discharged over 19 batches. According to the Central Weather Administration, the impact remains concentrated in waters east of Honshu, with no impact on Taiwan's surrounding waters, where tritium levels remain below detectable limits. Since 2017, the NSC has analyzed 18,878 samples, including seawater and marine life, with no radiation anomalies detected.