One step backward
It has been three months since the beginning of Japan’s nuclear crisis. Three countries — Germany, Switzerland and Italy — have decided to go nuclear-free after the Fukishima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant disaster. In the meantime, Taiwan has just passed an additional NT$14 billion (US$482.8 million) budget to continue construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant in Gongliao District (貢寮), New Taipei City (新北市) (“Lawmakers pass new nuclear funding,” June 14, page 1).
Since I am just a student and not a lawmaker, all I can do is hope that Taiwanese take nuclear power seriously, as the damage caused by a nuclear disaster can be devastating.
The Fukushima disaster destroyed the myth of the safety of nuclear power plants. Even the most robust protective barriers at a nuclear power plant can be easily breached by the power of nature. The government and public should not naively believe statements by Taiwan Power Co (Taipower) regarding the safety of Taiwan’s nuclear power industry.
For example, Taipower claimed that because there are more generators in its nuclear power plants, the chances of there being a lack of cooling water in case of a nuclear disaster are much lower than at the Fukushima plant. However, one thing that can be learned from Fukushima is that statistics are unreliable when facing natural disasters. That is why Taiwan should reconsider the future of the nuclear power industry.
The Fukushima nuclear plant was earthquake resistant up to 0.6g of force. However, Taiwan’s plants are only geared for earthquakes that produce up to 0.4g of force. Moreover, in the Pacific Ring of Fire, the risk of Taiwan’s nuclear plants being hit by a powerful earthquake are very high.
Furthermore, after construction is finished on the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant, there will be three operating nuclear plants within 30km of the capital, a situation not often seen in the rest of the world.
Taipower often says that serious accidents are almost impossible and backup systems would stop a disaster. However, all the backup systems at Fukushima broke down after the earthquake and tsunami hit it in early March, and that occurred in one of the countries that pays the most attention to industrial safety.
However, a number of potentially fatal fires and power outages at the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant begs the question: How safe can Taiwan’s nuclear plants really be?
After observing the Fukushima partial meltdown, it is clear how intractable a radiation diaster would be. If some countries can gradually phase out nuclear power production while developing alternative energy, why can’t Taiwan? If the public can reach a consensus about the future of nuclear power, Taiwan could enjoy a healthier and safer living standard, instead of living under the threat of the hidden crisis.
Adults should not leave their descendants a place full of fatal nuclear radiation and radioactive waste, right?
Vian Hsu
New Taipei City
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