Japan's nuclear regulators say on Friday they will approve a new system to release treated and diluted water into the ocean from the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

A certificate will be granted to plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Company that will allow it to operate the system, which was completed in June.

Officials from the Nuclear Regulation Authority agreed to issue the certificate at a meeting on Wednesday after hearing reports from inspectors who checked the facility.

The inspection included the pumps, emergency shut-off valves and tunnel that will be used to release the water. They said there were no performance problems.

Water used to cool molten nuclear fuel has been accumulating in storage tanks at the Fukushima Daiichi plant. It mixes with rain and groundwater and is treated to remove most radioactive materials, but some tritium remains.

The government plans to dilute the water to reduce the tritium level to about one-seventh of the World Health Organization's safety guidelines for drinking water.

The International Atomic Energy Agency on Tuesday said Japan's plan to release the treated and diluted water is consistent with the international safety standards.

The government plans to start releasing the water sometime this summer. It intends to determine the exact date after providing further safety explanations to concerned parties in Japan and abroad.