Operation of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant (
Before work on the plant was halted last October, construction had already fallen behind schedule and the original July 2004 date for operation of the first reactor had been pushed back until the end of that year, Taipower said.
Now, with the 110-day halt to construction and a reported additional delay of around three months while contractors prepare to return to work, operation of one of the plant's two reactors will be pushed back until July 2005, said Taipower.
Restarting work on the US$5.6 billion project is no simple matter. Once Taipower receives official notice from the Cabinet to recommence building, it will ask all contractors to submit a detailed plan of how they intend to pick up where they left off three and a half months ago.
At the same time, Taipower will enter into negotiations with contractors about the amount of compensation they will be paid for the duration of the stoppage, Taipower said.
"Contractors will have to present all relevant documents and receipts pertaining to extra expenses incurred during the delay and we will consider what is an appropriate amount to pay," said a Taipower executive.
Taipower has admitted previously that the delay was inflicting losses on the company of NT$6.5 million per day -- totalling over NT$700 million over the last three months -- in interest on loans and maintaining the work site.
If it takes another three months for work to begin, Taipower's losses on interest and maintenance for the combined delay could top NT$1.4 billion, which does not include compensation to contractors.
A good piece of news for Taipower in terms of getting the project back on track is an apparent softening of Ta Tung Construction (大棟) on its intention to pull out of the project due to the long delays.
Hsieh Cheng-che (
"There are many problems with the project we must discuss ... and we will certainly be talking compensation with Taipower," said Hsieh, who added that in light of yesterday's decision, Ta Tung had not made a final decision on its request for annulment.
Taipower shook off talk that a departure by Ta Tung, which is building a special receiving dock in Kungliao (
"Although construction of the dock is behind schedule, its present condition would allow a ship to dock and unload the reactors," a Taipower executive said.
"Even if Ta Tung sticks with its decision to bail, other contractors can be sought and the dock should be ready to receive the first reactor by September," he added.
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