Tokyo, Apr 13 (EFE).- Japan on Tuesday formalized its to decision to release over 1 million tonnes of contaminated water stored in the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean, after treating it to remove most radioactive elements.

The contentious measure is aimed at solving the accumulation of radioactive water at the Daiichi nuclear facilities, one of the most pressing problems in the complex process of dismantling the plant that was damaged by the earthquake and tsunami in March 2011.

Japanese Prime Minster Yoshihide Suga formalized the decision Tuesday in a Cabinet meeting after having consulted with the operator of the plant, Tokyo Electric Power, the Japanese nuclear regulator, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the local authorities of Fukushima, among other parties.

"Disposing of the treated water is an unavoidable issue in decommissioning the Fukushima Daiichi plant," Suga said at the meeting.

He added that the plan will be implemented "while ensuring that safety standards are cleared by a wide margin and firm steps are taken to prevent reputational damage."

The controlled discharge of water from the plant was the measure that the Japanese authorities leaned towards since the beginning of last year, considering it the most viable among a range of other technically more complex options.

But the decision was delayed due to opposition from the Fukushima government and local fishermen's associations, who believe that the spill could further harm their economic activity, among the worst hit by the 2011 nuclear accident.

Neighboring countries China and South Korea have also expressed serious concern over the move.

The authorities say that the spill will not generate any risk to human health because the levels of tritium released into the sea will be diluted enough to fall below national sanitary standards and they defend that this is a common practice in other countries.

The water, which is stored in huge tanks, is what was pumped into the damaged nuclear reactor cores, as well as contaminated rain and groundwater.

The Fukushima Daiichi facilities have a water processing system that removes the radioactive materials considered dangerous, with the exception of tritium, a material present in nature, although in low concentration.

More than 1.25 million tonnes of processed water is stored at the Daiichi facilities, and storage capacity is expected to run out next autumn.

The release into the sea may not take place for two years due to the need to build new facilities and conduct safety screenings, but the entire process could take decades. EFE

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