Japan’s Kishida Visits Fukushima Amid Focus on Water Release

(Bloomberg) -- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant and said it’s premature to say when the country would release treated wastewater from the disaster site. 

“I must refrain from commenting on the specific timing at this point,” Kishida said in a televised news conference Sunday after checking equipment and talking to people on site. 

The Japanese government could start releasing the water from between late August and early September, Kyodo News reported over the weekend, citing government sources it did not name. The Asahi newspaper has recently reported the premier and the cabinet would decide on the timing of the release as soon as Tuesday.

Kishida added he intends to meet the chairman of a national fishermen’s association, which is concerned about the possible impact of discharged water on the industry, as early as Monday. 

The plan for Tokyo Electric Power Co. to release the wastewater — equivalent in volume to about 500 Olympic-size swimming pools — has drawn protests in South Korea and fierce criticism from China, which has extended a ban on food imports from Fukushima. 

Nearly nine in 10 respondents to a Kyodo poll published Sunday were concerned about damage from harmful speculation related to the water release. The poll also showed Kishida’s disapproval rate rose to 50% for the first time since December.

Japanese officials have said the water discharge would be safe and the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog released a comprehensive review last month, saying the move “would have negligible radiological impact on people and the environment.” 

“Our government will take advantage of every opportunity to offer very transparent explanations to foster the understanding of not only China but also the international community,” Kishida said at the news conference. 

(Updates with the result of a public opinion survey by Kyodo in sixth paragraph.)

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