Nuclear stewardship taken to task

"Based on recent incidents which have occurred at the First Nuclear Power Plant and the Third Nuclear Power Plant, nuclear safety issues in Taiwan still lack transparency," said Lai Wei-chieh (賴偉傑), secretary-general of the Green Citizens' Action Alliance, told the Taipei Times.

Lai claimed the monitoring network established by local residents, rescue teams and fire departments did not function adequately during the recent fire at the Third Nuclear Power Plant because Taipower officials at the plant procrastinated for at least an hour before reporting the accident.

AEC officials said that the council would supervise Taipower in carrying out safety checks at the first and second nuclear power plants in Taipei County.

"We will especially focus on the condition of transmission lines at the two plants as they were the cause of the recent incident at the Third Nuclear Power Plant," said the AEC's Shen.