On Jan. 31, ROC President Ma Ying-jeou made it clear in no uncertain terms that the government is committed to maintaining the strictest safety standards for Taiwan’s nuclear power stations. For the soon-to-be-completed Lungmen plant in New Taipei City, this means that even the slightest doubt over operational integrity will see the facility remain offline until all issues have been satisfactorily addressed.
The president’s no-nonsense stance on nuclear safety stems from the crisis in March 2011 at Fukushima’s Daiichi nuclear power plant in northeastern Japan. Since the disaster, the government has worked tirelessly to allay public concerns over Taiwan’s three operational stations, ordering comprehensive reviews of the facilities and their emergency procedures.
Conducted by Taiwan Power Co., operator of the plants, under the auspices of the Atomic Energy Council, the reviews were delivered in February last year. It declared the stations in good shape and capable of withstanding magnitude 6 to 7 earthquakes.
But Ma is taking no chances. He has instructed government-owned Taipower to make bolstering the integrity of its facilities and ensuring public safety an absolute priority. It is critical that all possible steps be taken to bolster the capacity of the plants to weather increasingly potent threats posed by earthquakes, floods and tsunamis.
Taipower has laid on additional inspections and improvement work is under way to ensure Taiwan’s three stations—Chinshan and Kuosheng in New Taipei City, and Maanshan in Pingtung County—incorporate adequate safety controls and minimize the chances of suffering a Fukushima-style meltdown.
Concerning Lungmen, once further checks have wrapped up and any shortcomings rectified, international nuclear safety organizations will conduct inspections and evaluations before a final decision is taken to turn the facility live.
These government nuclear safety efforts are in accordance with Ma’s energy policy unveiled Nov. 3, 2011. This outlined a commitment to establishing a nuclear-free homeland by adhering to the principles of zero power rationing, maintaining stable electricity prices and reducing carbon dioxide emissions to meet international goals.
While Fukushima has given greater impetus to addressing the safety of Taiwan’s nuclear plants, it also serves as a reminder of the importance of developing alternative and environmentally friendly energy. But what must be kept in mind, however, is that this process is only possible through determined policymaking and having the right economic structures in place.
The government has Taiwan on the right course to becoming a nuclear-free homeland but more time is needed before this goal is reached. For now, the priority is minimizing and managing the risk posed by nuclear power so as to safeguard public health and avoid a situation where economic development suffers to the detriment of all.
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