The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and its lawmakers yesterday condemned the Atomic Energy Council’s (AEC) approval for Taiwan Power Co (Taipower) to reactivate the No. 1 reactor at the Guosheng Nuclear Power Plant in Wanli District (萬里), New Taipei City (新北市).
The DPP said the council on Monday approved the proposal after Taipower repaired defective bolts and subjected them to safety checks to make sure the reactor can continue to operate safely for another 18 months.
“The DPP caucus demanded an immediate halt to the reactivation and condemns the AEC for continuing to push the envelope on reactivation, which had been deemed by the legislature as a dangerous move,” DPP Legislator Lin Shu-fen (林淑芬) told a press conference, adding that the party reported the case to the Control Yuan.
DPP Legislator Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君) said it was unbelievable that the agency demanded that Taipower submit a plan for reactivation.
Taipower has never responded to more than 100 questions raised by the review committee after a number of problems were found in the No. 1 reactor, Cheng said.
“The AEC ignored an April 16 legislative resolution which demanded that the commission hold a public hearing and submit a report to the Legislative Yuan before reactivation,” she said.
DPP spokesperson Lin Chun-hsien (林俊憲) said the agency’s unilateral decision amounted to contempt of the legislature.
Aftershocks from a magnitude 6.2 earthquake that struck off Yilan County at 3:45pm yesterday could reach a magnitude of 5 to 5.5, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Seismological Center technical officer Chiu Chun-ta (邱俊達) told a news conference that the epicenter of the temblor was more than 100km from Taiwan. Although predicted to measure between magnitude 5 and 5.5, the aftershocks would reach an intensity of 1 on Taiwan’s 7-tier scale, which gauges the actual effect of an earthquake, he said. The earthquake lasted longer in Taipei because the city is in a basin, he said. The quake’s epicenter was about 128.9km east-southeast
The Taipei Summer Festival is to begin tomorrow at Dadaocheng Wharf (大稻埕), featuring four themed firework shows and five live music performances throughout the month, the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism said today. The festival in the city’s Datong District (大同) is to run until Aug. 30, holding firework displays on Wednesdays and the final Saturday of the event. The first show is scheduled for tomorrow, followed by Aug. 13, 20 and 30. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Disney Pixar's movie Toy Story, the festival has partnered with Walt Disney Co (Taiwan) to host a special themed area on
BE CAREFUL: The virus rarely causes severe illness or death, but newborns, older people and those with medical conditions are at risk of more severe illness As more than 7,000 cases of chikungunya fever have been reported in China’s Guangdong Province this year, including 2,892 new cases last week, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday said it is monitoring the situation and considering raising the travel notice level, which might be announced today. The CDC issued a level 1 travel notice, or “watch,” for Guangdong Province on July 22, citing an outbreak in Foshan, a manufacturing hub in the south of the province, that was reported early last month. Between July 27 and Saturday, the province reported 2,892 new cases of chikungunya, reaching a total of 7,716
The New Taipei City Government today warned about the often-overlooked dangers of playing in water, and recommended safe swimming destinations to cool off from the summer heat. The following locations in the city as safe and fun for those looking to enjoy the water: Chienshuiwan (淺水灣), Baishawan (白沙灣), Jhongjiao Bay (中角灣), Fulong Beach Resort (福隆海水浴場) and Sansia District’s (三峽) Dabao River (大豹溪), New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Department Director-General Yang Tsung-min (楊宗珉) said. Outdoor bodies of water have variables outside of human control, such as changing currents, differing elevations and environmental hazards, all of which can lead to accidents, Yang said. Sudden