#Fukushima Now – Current State of Post-Accident Operations at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (August 2024 to January 2025)

by Citizens' Nuclear Information Center · Published April 2, 2025 · Updated April 2, 2025

By Matsukubo Hajime

Excerpt: State of #ContaminatedWater

"Contaminated water countermeasures at #FukushimaDaiichi #NuclearPower Station (#FDNPS) can be broadly divided into three areas: 1) Reduction of #groundwater flowing into buildings, 2) Reduction of #ContaminatedWater flowing into the sea, and 3) Reduction of the toxicity of contaminated water.

"Countermeasures implemented to reduce water inflow into the buildings are, from higher elevations downward, (A) Pumping up groundwater at the groundwater bypass and releasing it into the sea (953,611m3 up to February 10, 2025), B) Installation of a frozen earth barrier (on-land water barrier, total length roughly 1,500m) surrounding FDNPS Units 1-4, C) Pumping up water at the subdrains and releasing it into the sea (1,801,404m3 up to February 9), and D) Paving of the site with asphalt to suppress permeation of rainwater into the soil. Measures to prevent the discharge of contaminated water into the ocean include A) Groundwater leakage prevention by a steel water barrier on the sea-side and B) Pumping up of groundwater dammed up behind the sea-side water barrier from the well points and groundwater drains. Due to these measures, the volume of contaminated water discharged, 540m3/day in May 2014, fell to 80m3/day in FY2023, and was below 100m3/day in FY2024.

"In the reduction of the toxicity of contaminated water, cesium and strontium are removed, and after the removal of impurities using a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane, the multi-radionuclide removal equipment (ALPS – Advanced Liquid Processing System) then removes 62 radionuclides [NOT COMPLETELY!!!]. The water is then stored in tanks (containing 1,297,190m3 as of January 30, 2025. However, due to past equipment #malfunctions and operational policies, around 64% of the stored water exceeds the notification concentration).

"Oceanic release of the ALPS-treated contaminated water began on August 24, 2023, a total of 78,285m3 being released in ten batches by January 2025. Table 2 shows the amounts released in each release and the total amount of tritium released. The concentration is gradually rising. One further release is scheduled during FY2024. In addition, roughly 15,720m3 of water remain in buildings, and a further 8,946m3 of strontium-treated water, etc., 5,644m3 of water treated by RO, and 9,463m3 of concentrated wastewater, etc. also exist onsite."

Read more:
https://cnic.jp/english/?p=8272
#FukushimaIsntOver #WaterIsLife #PacificOcean #TEPCOLies #FukushimaNuclear #RethinkNotRestart #RadioactiveContamination #HormesisIsBullShit #Bioaccumulation

Blog: Voices of #Decolonization

#FirstNations chiefs shouldn’t be duped by the ‘#nuclear-is-green' deception

by William Eric Altvater, February 6, 2025

"Some First Nation Chiefs are victims of shenanigans, not unlike the swindle behind the purchase of Manhattan. The federal government needs the support of #Indigenous peoples to expand nuclear power generation capacity in #Canada.

"For millennia, the cornerstones of the Indigenous people that inhabit Turtle Island, now known as North America, held all that is essential to life, in reverence. Every decision considered the next 7 generations. These cornerstones are crumbling.

"Newcomers, armed with the #Colonizing tool, 'The #DoctrineOfDiscovery' and their mentality of superiority, invaded the land of those they called 'Savages,' almost totally exterminating #Skicinuwok, People of The Earth.

"Determined to bestow Christianity and civility to this wild untamed population, old growth forests were cut, rivers and streams were dammed to power sawmills, roads and railroads were built, bridges erected. All to create an infrastructure for #capitalism, a system to make a #profit, that morphed into #greed, a word of foreign root. This unbridled desire for progress has ruined what was once called Paradise.

"Now most water is not fit to drink, clean air is scarce, #deforestation is rampant, #biodiversity loss out of control, plants genetically modified, food manufactured with unpronounceable chemicals, caged fish starved of oxygen while being fed chicken feathers and pig parts, cancer cases in the millions, the list goes on.

"As the population increased over this continent the available sources for power generation have not been able to satisfy the insatiable desires of the 'bigger, better, faster, more is never enough' mentality. Some have finally acknowledged the fact that #FossilFuels are not the golden egg they were once deemed to be.

"So-called '#GreenEnergy' is required to slow the blind drive to extinction of man; man, who is considered by some to be the most intelligent creature to ever roam Earth. Unfortunately, the lure of riches and the corruption of self-serving purposes have led man to stray from practices that nurture everything required to sustain life on this tiny blue marble floating through the universe.

"#NuclearPower is now being touted as being 'Green.' It is not. Big money corporations are lobbying legislators to convince them and the public that it is. They are also lobbying to convince the public that they should foot the bill in the form of taxes and rate hikes, for a process that pollutes from the day it starts. Water is life. As soon as #uranium is mined from the earth it begins to contaminate the water in surrounding aquifers.

"When the uranium is processed sufficiently, it is used as fuel for reactors where it generates heat while delivering electricity, not just for essential needs, but also for many things once considered luxuries. This fission generated heat is then dumped into nearby waters where it kills thousands, if not millions of small beings that form the basis of life itself.

"After this radioactive fuel is depleted, it is stored in various containers where it will stay radioactive for eons. Indigenous #Grandmothers have labelled it 'Forever Dangerous.'

"The power generated during the fission process benefits only those who exist today as the process occurs, not those born tomorrow or next week or next month. All the #RadioactiveWaste and the inherent danger it creates is left to future generations, kicking the can down the road.

"What better place to dump this waste than in an area with a population that has witnessed Newcomers enrich themselves for hundreds of years? Yes, what better place than a population that has been targeted for assimilation, suffered theft of lands, witnessed the taking of naturally bestowed rights? A population that has been subjected to racial Indian Act legislation essentially stripping away all that sustained this population for thousands of years.

"Yes, let us give the Indians some more shiny beads and trinkets so that they willingly agree to care for our radioactive garbage. How do we do this? Let’s talk to the Chief and Council. Let’s wine and dine them. Let’s give them some money, take them to dinner, buy some drinks and make them feel all festive and most of all make them think we are looking out for their best interests. Some Chiefs have taken the bait.

"Egregious as it may be, this is exactly what is happening in some Indigenous communities contrary to the will of the majority. Elected Chiefs are continuing the deception as they are blinded and professing the 'Nuclear is Green' mantra. They have lost connection with the Spirit of Ancestors and traditional values. They need to have a serious introspection and realize that looking forward, we need only look back at what has sustained us to this point in time. We need not do any more than that."

Eric lives in #PeskotomuhkatiNation territory in Maine and stands shoulder to shoulder with his Peskotomuhkati relations in #NewBrunswick in the struggle to achieve Canadian Government recognition.

https://www.wabanakireach.org/first_nations_chiefs_shouldn_t_be_duped_by_the_nuclear_is_green_deception_by_william_altvater
#NoNukes #NoNewNukes #WaterIsLife #AirIsLife #UraniumMining #UraniumMilling #LeaveItInTheGround #Greenwashing #NuclearIsNotCarbonFree #NuclearIsNotGreen #CanadaPol #NuclearWaste #NuclearIndustry #TEPCOLies #HoltecLies #NuclearColonialism

The latest from #FukushimaDiary!

Declining Interest and Zero Successful Proposals in Tritium Removal Technology for ALPS Water
Steep Decline in Tritium Removal Proposals

TEPCO’s latest report on tritium removal technologies for ALPS-treated water highlights a drastic drop in submitted proposals over time. Since the call for technologies began in May 2021, the number of proposals has plummeted:

First round (2021): 65 proposals
Eighth round (2024): 7 proposals
Ninth round (2025): 2 proposals​

This sharp decline suggests a lack of viable technical solutions or diminishing interest from researchers and industry.
Zero Cases Passed Initial Evaluation in Recent Rounds

In early recruitment phases (2021-2022), 15 proposals passed the initial evaluation and moved on to secondary feasibility studies.
However, in the fourth, fifth, seventh, eighth, and ninth rounds, not a single proposal passed the initial evaluation.
In the most recent ninth round (July – December 2024), only two proposals were submitted, and both failed to meet TEPCO’s evaluation criteria​.

Why Are No Proposals Passing?

TEPCO’s report states that the submitted proposals failed due to:

Lack of technical justification for tritium separation methods
Inability to meet TEPCO’s separation criteria
Insufficient data to verify feasibility​.

The complete lack of successful proposals raises questions about whether a viable tritium removal solution exists at all. For now, it appears that controlled dilution and ocean discharge remain the only “practical approach”—despite ongoing concerns and criticism.

トリチウム除去技術の公募が低迷、成功例ゼロに
トリチウム除去技術の提案数が激減

東京電力の最新報告によると、ALPS処理水のトリチウム除去技術の公募に対する提案数が大幅に減少していることが明らかになりました。
2021年5月に公募が開始されて以来、提案数は以下のように推移しています：

第1回募集（2021年）： 65件
第8回募集（2024年）： 7件
第9回募集（2025年）： 2件​

この急激な減少は、技術的な課題の難しさや、研究機関や企業の関心の低下を示している可能性があります。
直近の募集では初期評価通過例がゼロ

2021年～2022年の初期段階では、15件の提案が一次評価を通過し、二次評価（フィージビリティスタディ）に進みました。
しかし、第4回・第5回・第7回・第8回・第9回募集では、一件も一次評価を通過せず、成功例が完全に消滅しました。
最新の第9回募集（2024年7月～12月）では、わずか2件の提案しか提出されず、両方とも基準を満たさず不合格となりました​。

https://fukushima-diary.com/2025/02/declining-interest-and-zero-successful-proposals-in-tritium-removal-technology-for-alps-water/
#ContaminatedWaterCrisis #FukushimaIsntOver #ALPSSystem #Tritium #WaterIsLife #TEPCOLies #JapanGovernmentFail

HT @NVL311

‘An act of betrayal’: Japan to maximise nuclear power 14 years after Fukushima disaster

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb
#RethinkNotRestart #NoMoreFukushimas #TEPCOLies #KEPCOLies #NoNukes

Since the 2011 #Fukushima accident, Japan has restarted 14 #NuclearReactors

1/10/2025

"Japanese utilities restarted two additional nuclear reactors in 2024 that had been suspended from operations in response to the 2011 #FukushimaDaiichi accident, taking the total number of restarted reactors to 14 since the accident.

"In November, #TohokuElectricPowerCo. restarted its 796-megawatt (MW) #Onagawa Unit 2 reactor, and in December #ChugokuElectricPowerCo. restarted its #Shimane Unit 2 (789 MW). Onagawa is the nuclear power plant located closest to the epicenter of the March 2011 #earthquake and tsunami.

"Most of the restarted reactors have been pressurized water reactors (PWR) located in western Japan. Onagawa Unit 2 and Shimane Unit 2, by contrast, are the first boiling water reactors (BWR) to be restarted. Onagawa Unit 2 is also the first reactor in the eastern part of the country to be restarted. Japan’s nuclear regulator prioritized the restart of PWRs due to public safety concerns regarding BWR technology, which is the design of the Fukushima Daiichi units.

"Japan suspended its nuclear fleet from 2013 to 2015 for mandatory safety checks and upgrades following the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi accident. Before the accident, 54 commercial nuclear reactors were operating in Japan, and nuclear power accounted for approximately 30% of the country’s electricity generation. Nuclear restarts have proceeded slowly since the first two units (#Sendai Units 1 and 2) were restarted in 2015. Restarts have been slow due to a significantly more stringent safety inspection and authorization process established after the accident and local court injunctions emerging from ongoing public safety concerns in some regions. Public support for restarts has been growing in Japan recently, however.

"Under the current restart process, once regulatory approvals have been granted, the local municipality and prefectural governments are consulted prior to restart. In addition to the 14 reactors already restarted, three more units (namely, the #KashiwazakiKariwa Unit 6 and Unit 7 and the #TokaiDaini unit) have received regulatory approval to restart but have yet to do so. Tohoku Electric Power announced in 2018 that Onagawa Unit 1 would be decommissioned rather than upgraded, but the utility plans to seek approval to restart Onagawa Unit 3. Restarting another 10 units is under regulatory review.

"The suspension of Japan's nuclear fleet after the Fukushima accident significantly increased dependence on natural gas, oil, and coal imports to make up for lost domestic nuclear generation. It also significantly increased the installed capacity of solar photovoltaic generation in the country, according to data from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Japan has limited domestic fossil fuel resources and imports virtually all the fossil fuels it uses. Consequently, Japan is the world's second-largest importer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) after China and the third-largest importer of coal.

"As part of Japan’s sixth long-term energy plan, last updated in October 2021, the central government called for the nuclear share of the country’s electricity generation to reach 20%–22% by 2030. Nuclear power accounted for about 6% of Japan’s electricity generation in 2023. A draft of Japan’s seventh long-term energy plan was released on December 17, 2024, and says nuclear power should account for 20% of Japan’s energy supply in 2040.

"Japan’s current policy intends to maximize the use of existing reactors by restarting as many units as possible and extending the #LicensedOperatingLife beyond the current 60-year limit."

Source:
http://gasprocessingnews.com/news/2025/01/since-the-2011-fukushima-accident-japan-has-restarted-14-nuclear-reactors/
#NoNukesForAI #RenewablesNow #RethinkNotRestart #NoMoreFukushimas #TEPCOLies #KEPCOLies #NoNukes #NuclearPlants #NuclearPowerCorruptionAndLies

Speaking of #Fukushima...

Editorial: Unresolved disposal of Fukushima #nuke disaster soil a barrier to full recovery

January 10, 2025

"The recovery of #FukushimaPrefecture cannot be considered complete until the disposal of soil generated from #radiation #decontamination work after the 2011 #FukushimaDaiichi #NuclearPlant triple-meltdown is resolved.

"The nuclear accident released vast amounts of #radioactive material over a wide area. The decontamination efforts in residential and agricultural areas across Fukushima Prefecture resulted in the collection of approximately 14 million cubic meters of contaminated soil. This soil has been transported to interim storage facilities built in the towns of #Futaba and #Okuma, where the power plant is located.

"Local communities only agreed to the construction of these facilities on the condition that the soil would eventually be disposed of outside the prefecture. By law, final disposal must be completed by March 2045, 30 years after storage began. To meet this deadline, the Japanese government held a meeting involving all Cabinet members late last year. The goal is to draft a concrete timeline for disposal by this summer.

"The government has also proposed reusing soil with radiation levels below a certain threshold. The plan envisions using the soil for public projects across the country, including road embankments and #farmland development.

"In Fukushima Prefecture, pilot projects are underway to confirm that reusing the soil is safe. In September 2024, the International Atomic Energy Agency (#IAEA) concluded that the government's plan complies with its safety standards. However, scientific assurances on safety alone have not been enough to advance the plan. Concerns about potential health risks and local reputational damage remain unresolved.

"In 2022, the Ministry of the Environment attempted to reuse the soil at three facilities it manages, including Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden in Tokyo, but the plan was derailed by strong opposition from residents. To this day, there is no clear timeline for implementation.

"Additionally, about a quarter of the removed soil is still too highly contaminated to be reused. This portion will require final disposal outside Fukushima Prefecture, but no schedule or location has been determined.

"Public understanding of the issue remains insufficient. A December 2023 survey conducted by the Ministry of the Environment revealed that over 70% of people outside Fukushima Prefecture were unaware of the plans for reusing or disposing of the soil.

"The electricity generated by the Fukushima Daiichi plant was primarily consumed in metropolitan areas, especially the Tokyo region. Dealing with the waste soil is a responsibility that must be acknowledged by those who benefited from that power.

"Meanwhile, the decommissioning of the plant is behind schedule, and those displaced from their hometowns around it are growing increasingly anxious. It is the government's responsibility to urgently present a clear path forward to address the aftermath of the nuclear disaster."

Source:
https://www.msn.com/en-xl/science/environmental-science/editorial-unresolved-disposal-of-fukushima-nuke-disaster-soil-a-barrier-to-full-recovery/ar-BB1rg7Dt
#TEPCOLies #IAEALies #NuclearPowerCorruptionAndLies #RethinkNotRestart #NoNukes #Bioaccumulation #NuclearPollution #NuclearContamination #Japan

#AI and [#ComputerChip] Manufacturing Drive #Japan's #Nuclear Energy Expansion

By ZeroHedge - Dec 11, 2024

- Japan's #Shimane nuclear reactor has restarted for the first time since the 2011 #Fukushima disaster, marking a significant step in the country's renewed embrace of nuclear power.
- Tech giants like #Meta are actively seeking nuclear power solutions to meet the growing energy demands of their #DataCenters and AI initiatives.
- The global resurgence of #NuclearPower is driven by factors such as increasing energy needs, the push for decarbonization, and advancements in nuclear technology.

"The world continues to 'warm' back up to nuclear, with the latest example coming out of Japan, where its Shimane nuclear power station in western Japan has been restarted for the first time since the 2011 Fukushima meltdown.

"Japan's long-delayed restart of the 820 MW No. 2 reactor at the Shimane plant, shut down since January 2012, raises the number of operational reactors to 14, with a total capacity of 13,253 MW, according to Reuters.

"#TohokuElectricPower also recently resumed operations of its 825 MW No. 2 reactor at the #Onagawa plant, reducing Japan's reliance on liquefied natural gas and thermal coal.

"Reuters writes that the expanded use of nuclear energy is expected to support Japan's growing power needs, particularly for #semiconductor plants and AI-driven #DataCenters."

Read more:
https://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Nuclear-Power/AI-and-Chip-Manufacturing-Drive-Japans-Nuclear-Energy-Expansion.html

#NoNukes #NuclearIsNotCarbonFree #RethinkNotRestart #NoNukesForAI #NoNukesJapan #FukushimaIsntOver #ThermalEnergy #TidalEnergy #RenewablesNow #TEPCOLies #KEPCOLies #NuclearPowerCorruptionAndLies

GOOD! Japanese #Nuclear Reactor Disqualified Under Post-#Fukushima Safety Standards

Published Nov 13, 2024

"#Japan's nuclear regulator has disqualified the country's #Tsuruga No. 2 reactor from restarting for the first time under post-Fukushima safety standards.

"The #NuclearRegulationAuthority (NRA) announced Wednesday that #JapanAtomicPower Co. had failed to adequately address potential #SeismicRisks from active fault lines near the reactor, located in #FukuiPrefecture.

"The decision is a setback for Japan's energy policy, which aims to expand nuclear power to bolster energy stability and meet carbon neutral goals.

"'We reached our conclusion based on a very strict examination,' said NRA Chairperson Shinsuke Yamanaka. He called the eight-year review process 'abnormal' due to frequent disruptions from data inaccuracies and errors by Japan Atomic Power Co."

#NoNukes #NoNukesJapan #RethinkNotRestart #FukushimaIsntOver #RenewablesNow #ThermalEnergy #HotSprings #TidalEnergy #TEPCOLies #NuclearPowerCorruptionAndLies

Travel Warning: Radiation in Japan: Are There Places with Health Risks and Environmental Impact?

October 27, 2024 by Hassan

"Japan generally has normal background radiation levels, including in Tokyo. However, places like Fukushima have restricted areas due to higher radiation levels and radioactive contamination. Visitors should stay informed about safety measures and regulations in these regions to protect their health.

"Recent studies indicate some regions still show residual radiation, affecting #agricultural and #environmental conditions. This radiation can result in contamination of water supplies and soil, leading to potential health issues over time. Certain localities have been designated as 'hot spots,' where radiation levels exceed the safety thresholds set by authorities. Citizens [and peaches] in these areas continue to face health risks due to prolonged exposure."

https://travelpander.com/is-there-places-in-japan-that-have-radiation/

#NoNukes #FukushimaIsntOver #RethinkNotRestart #NoNukesJapan #JGovLies #TEPCOLies

#FukushimaDiary was a mainstay of news about what was / is going on at #Fukushima. The author, #IoriMochizuki, fled Japan, but still reported on #TEPCOLies and provided a valuable service by translating TEPCO documents and inconsistencies in #RadiationLevels. #Mochizuki is still active (though not as much as he used to be), and posted this story back in November 2024.

Former TEPCO Chairman #Katsumata’s Passing Sparks Reflections on Accountability in the #FukushimaDisaster

Katsumata’s Legacy as “The Emperor” of TEPCO

"Tsunehisa Katsumata, former chairman of Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), passed away at age 84 on October 21. Known as the 'Emperor' within TEPCO due to his powerful influence, Katsumata led the company through significant periods, including the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. However, despite his long-standing authority, he left without resolving key decommissioning issues at Fukushima​.

Awareness of Tsunami Risk Without Action

"In February 2009, a critical internal meeting—later known as the 'Gozen Kaigi' (御前会議) —highlighted the risk of a tsunami exceeding the plant’s protective barriers. Despite this, Katsumata refrained from directing immediate countermeasures, even as the potential threat to Fukushima loomed.

Legal Challenges and Unpaid Compensation

"Following the Fukushima disaster, Katsumata and other former executives faced multiple lawsuits, including a landmark shareholder derivative suit that ordered him and three other former executives to pay over 13 trillion yen (around 100 billion USD). Despite this ruling, compensation had yet to be paid by the time of his passing.

"In July 2022, a civil court held TEPCO executives accountable for negligence regarding tsunami countermeasures, noting that if measures had been implemented, the disaster’s impact could have been significantly reduced. This marked the first time former management was deemed financially responsible on such a large scale.

Mixed Reactions to His Death

"The news of Katsumata’s death has triggered complex responses, especially among Fukushima survivors. Many feel unresolved anger, recalling his persistent denial of responsibility during trial testimonies, where he often claimed ignorance on technical matters. Katsumata’s departure symbolizes the long-standing challenges of achieving justice and closure for the victims of Fukushima."

https://fukushima-diary.com/2024/11/former-tepco-chairman-katsumatas-passing-sparks-reflections-on-accountability-in-the-fukushima-disaster/

#NoNukes #TEPCOLied
#TEPCOLies #JGovLies
#FukushimaIsntOver #RethinkNotRestart #JapanPol #NoNukesJapan