The legislature yesterday passed an amendment to extend the operating license of nuclear reactors, potentially pushing back the implementation of Taiwan’s “nuclear-free homeland” policy by another two decades.
The No. 2 reactor of the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung County is set to shut down on Saturday, realizing the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) goal of eliminating all nuclear power from the nation’s energy mix.
Article 6 of the Nuclear Reactor Facilities Regulation Act (核子反應器設施管制法) stipulates that operating licenses are valid for 40 years and cannot be extended without an application for renewal.
Photo courtesy of the National Nuclear Abolition Action Platform
The competent authority must inspect the reactor and ensure it is safe for continued operation before authorizing a new operating permit, allowing the operator to continue operations.
The amendment raises the cap to 60 years.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) lawmakers yesterday voted 60 to 51 DPP votes to pass the third and final reading of the amendment.
Minister of Economic Affairs J.W. Kuo (郭智輝) last week said that if the reactor is approved for continued operation, the nation would have to obtain new fuel rods, which would take at least 16 to 18 months.
Executive Yuan spokeswoman Michelle Lee (李慧芝) said that the amendment was unrelated to removing the fuel rods from the second reactor at the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant.
There is no plan to assess the power plant’s continued operations, as the nation should place the safety of the public first, Lee said.
Should the operator file for continued operations, the request would be assessed and based on national safety standards, she said.
DPP caucus chief executive Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) said that the continued use of nuclear power is a serious issue and should not be politicized.
Public consensus, how to guarantee nuclear power security and how to dispose of nuclear waste are the three preconditions that the DPP has set before the use nuclear power can be discussed, Wu said.
Seeking to extend a plant’s lifespan without such considerations places national security at risk, she said.
KMT caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅?萁) said that the amendment’s passage is a step toward stable power provision nationwide.
Other nations are also restarting their nuclear power plants, he said, adding that the plant must continue operations after appropriate safety checks.
TPP deputy caucus convener Chang Chi-kai (張啟楷) said that the amendment was proposed at least eight years ago, but the DPP consistently blocked discussion of the issue.
The opposition parties have removed the legal obstacle, Chang said, adding that rising power prices, increased air pollution and threats to national security due to power shortages would be on the DPP’s head.
NETWORK-MAPPING PROJECT: The database contains 170 detailed files of Taiwanese politicians and about 23 million records of household registration data in Taiwan China has developed a network-mapping project targeting political figures and parties in Taiwan to monitor public opinion during elections and to craft tailored influence campaigns aimed at dividing Taiwanese society, according to documents leaked by Chinese technology firm GoLaxy (中科天璣). The documents, collected by Taipei-based Doublethink Lab, showed a database was specifically created to gather detailed information on Taiwanese political figures, including their political affiliations, job histories, birthplaces, residences, education, religion and a brief biography about them. Several notable Taiwanese politicians are in the database, including President William Lai (賴清德), former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍),
KEY INDUSTRY: The vice premier discussed a plan to create a non-red drone supply chain by next year, which has been allocated a budget of more than NT$7.2 billion The government has budgeted NT$44.2 billion (US$1.38 billion) to cultivate Taiwan’s uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) industry over the next five years, which would make the nation a major player in the industry’s democratic supply chain in the Asia-Pacific region, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday. Cho made the remarks during a visit to the facilities of Cub Elecparts Inc (為升電裝). Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chen Su-yueh (陳素月) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Hsieh Yi-fong (謝依鳳) also participated in the trip. Cub Elecparts has transitioned from the automotive industry to the defense industry, which is the top priority among the nation’s
UPGRADED MISSILE: The Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology is reportedly to conduct a live-fire test of the Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missile on Thursday next week The US Army is planning to build new facilities to boost explosives production and strengthen its supply chain, a move aimed at addressing munitions shortages and supporting obligations to partners including Taiwan, Ukraine and Israel, Defense News reported. The army has issued a sources sought notice for a proposed Center of Excellence at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Kentucky, the report said. The facility would serve as a hub within the US industrial base for the production of key military explosives, including research department explosives (RDX) and high melting explosives (HMX), while also supporting research and development of next-generation materials. The proposed
SOUTH KOREA DISPUTE: If Seoul continues to ignore its request, Taiwan would change South Korea’s designation on its arrival cards, the foreign ministry said If South Korea does not reply appropriately to a request to correct Taiwan’s name on its e-Arrival card system before March 31, the government would take corresponding measures to change how South Korea is labeled on the online Taiwan Arrival Card system, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. South Korea’s e-Arrival card system lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” in the “point of departure” and “next destination” fields. Taipei has asked Seoul to change the wording. Since March 1, South Koreans who hold government-issued Alien Resident Certificates (ARC) have been identified as from “South Korea” rather than the “Republic of Korea,” the
RSS