IAEA Team In Japan To Begin 2Nd Review Of Fukushima Water Treatment Process

An International Atomic Energy Agency task force arrived in Japan to begin a second review of the process of releasing the treated radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the ocean, local media reported on Tuesday.

During the inspection, the team will review the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in northeastern Japan on Wednesday, according to Tokyo-based Kyodo News.

The team will also hold discussions with the Industry Ministry, the plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. and the Nuclear Regulation Authority during its mission through Friday, it said.

On Friday, Japan said it started the release of the fifth batch of treated radioactive water into the ocean from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

Tokyo's move to begin the release of treated radioactive water into the ocean last August had triggered criticism, with China imposing a blanket ban on imports of seafood from Japan.

The plant has more than 1 million tons of treated wastewater to release in a 30-year process.

The Fukushima plant was forced to shut down after facing the largest nuclear accident since 1986 in Chernobyl following an earthquake and tsunami in 2011.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid -