A water pump at the Guosheng Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City’s Wanli District (萬里) overheated during a regular test on Thursday, but the Atomic Energy Council (AEC) yesterday said the problem has been fixed and denied a report that another nuclear reactor is to be restarted.
The temperature of an emergency circulation water pump of the plant’s No. 2 reactor reached the warning threshold of 120°C and broke down, the council said in a press release on Thursday.
The reactor has been offline for repairs since May 16 last year, when its lightning protection devices were damaged and caused its main electricity generator to break down, AEC Department of Nuclear Regulation Director-General Chang Shin (張欣) said.
Taiwan Power Co (Taipower), which operates the plant, has been conducting monthly tests since then, and the overheating occurred during the testing of an emergency diesel generator, the council said.
Chang said the pump was fixed on Sunday night and denied media reports that the tests were conducted in preparation for the reactor’s restart.
“If Taipower submits any applications to restart the reactor, the council will review the application and conduct a field examination,” the council said. “The council will report to the Legislative Yuan’s Education and Culture Committee before approving any applications for restarting the reactor.”
Taiwan Environmental Radiation Survey convener Lin Jui-chu (林瑞珠) said that Taipower has been planning to restart the reactor, as well as two other reactors at the Jinshan Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City’s Shihmen District (石門), citing electricity shortages in the summer.
“The reactors should never be restarted because their equipment is old,” Lin said. “Any incidents [at the two plants] are not accidental.”
The nation does not have a power shortage, but it lacks good management of electricity distribution and energy policies, she said, adding that the government should work to promote “smart” electricity meters that can help coordinate electricity consumption at peak times, as well as the installation of solar panels on rooftops.
“They are choosing to build solar power panels on fertile farmland, which is basically ruining the nation’s agriculture,” she said, adding that the Democratic Progressive Party has become numb to their calls.
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,
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