A Japanese electric power firm said Tuesday that a small amount of water containing radioactive material had leaked from a nuclear plant, amid rising public concern about the country's nuclear industry.
Kansai Electric Power, Japan's third largest power company, said the leak at the light water reactor in Fukui prefecture in western Japan was discovered late Monday.
The radioactive material that leaked outside was estimated to be less than one two-millionth of that permissible for discharge every year, a company statement said.
Monitors placed outside of the facility did not detect any impact to the environment, the company said.
The company plans to stop the reactor for an inspection, it said.
Japan, which has virtually no natural energy resources, relies on nuclear power for about one-third of its power needs.
Japanese consumers are especially sensitive to mishaps at nuclear power plants after a series of scandals involving officials hiding accidents and radioactive leaks.
They most recently became jittery over a fire and leaks at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant after a powerful earthquake on July 16, which killed 11 people in unrelated incidents.
The plant, the largest in the world, remains shut down for checks, although a team from the UN International Atomic Energy Agency found no safety risks.
