•Publication Date：07/31/2014
•Source： Taiwan Today
The No. 1 reactor at Lungmen Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City’s Gongliao District has been given a clean bill of health and is set for sealing next year, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs July 30.
The 126 systems of the unit underwent extensive preoperational testing and thorough re-examination based on 231 specific procedures from April 2013 to July this year. Key functions verified include containment, instrumentation and controls, peripheral support, power generation, safe shutdown and water cooling.
“Passing the rigorous review illustrates the high standards of care invested in the design and construction of the facility,” MOEA Minister Chang Chia-juch said at the conclusion of an expert meeting in Taipei City.
The reactor is expected to be mothballed for an initial phase of three years starting 2015. At the same time, construction of the No. 2 reactor in Lungmen will be suspended until the future of the facility is determined in a national referendum. The decision came after public concerns about the safety of nuclear power peaked in April this year.
“By sealing the reactor, rather than shutting it down before public consensus can be reached on this issue, options are being kept open for future generations,” the MOEA said.
According to facility operator Taiwan Power Co., sealing the reactor will cost NT$1.3 billion (US$43.3 million) for the first year, with overall spending for the three-year period capped at NT$2 billion. Results of the safety inspection are to be sent to the Atomic Energy Council for further review in September.
As the No. 1 reactor at Jinshan Nuclear Power Plant is scheduled for retirement in 2018, greater demands will be placed on Taiwan’s electricity supply going forward. The MOEA is planning to hold a national energy conference no later than September to assess the impact of this development and draft alternative policies.
