Japan's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant has discharged approximately 133,000 tonnes of treated wastewater into the Pacific Ocean as of December 23, 2025, according to operator Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO). The 17th round of release concluded this week, marking a contentious milestone in the ongoing decommissioning process.
Latest Developments
The most recent discharge began on December 4 but was temporarily halted after a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck off Aomori Prefecture on December 8. Operations resumed within 24 hours, releasing 7,833 tonnes containing 2.4 trillion becquerels of tritium – below TEPCO's safety threshold of 22 trillion becquerels per round.
Regional Implications
Since Japan initiated the discharge program in August 2023, neighboring countries and Pacific Island nations have repeatedly expressed environmental and food safety concerns. The cumulative total now represents about 10% of the 1.37 million tonnes stored at the facility damaged in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
Future Plans
TEPCO's fiscal 2025 roadmap outlines seven additional discharge rounds from April 2025 through March 2026, targeting 54,600 tonnes. Company officials maintain all releases meet International Atomic Energy Agency safety standards, though independent verification remains limited.
