Japan begins 22nd release of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated wastewater

Japan on Thursday began a new round of discharge of nuclear-contaminated wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea, marking the 22nd such release since the controversial operation began in 2023.

The discharge started at 11:28 local time.

According to the plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), the latest round, scheduled to continue through August 17, will release about 7,800 tonnes of wastewater into the ocean, containing approximately 1.3 trillion becquerels of radioactive tritium.

Struck by a 9-magnitude earthquake and the ensuing tsunami on March 11, 2011, the Fukushima nuclear plant suffered core meltdowns that released radiation, resulting in a level-7 nuclear accident, the highest on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale.

Despite concerns and opposition from the international community, Japan unilaterally launched the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi plant into the ocean in August 2023. So far, TEPCO has completed 21 rounds of discharges, and around 165,000 tonnes of wastewater have been released into the sea.

Tokyo stocks ended mixed Thursday, as gains in AI- and chip-related shares following robust earnings results pared losses on concerns over Middle East tensions.

The benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, ended up 433.24 points, or 0.71 percent, from Wednesday at 61,867.43.

The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 21.53 points, or 0.54 percent, lower at 3,952.50.

Stocks tracked overnight Wall Street losses after U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States would retaliate against Iran following its overnight missile attack on U.S. forces in Jordan, sending the West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures above 80 U.S. dollars per barrel, analysts said.

However, semiconductor testing equipment maker Advantest's better-than-expected earnings results sent artificial intelligence- and semiconductor-related shares higher and lifted the Nikkei stock index into positive territory.