The state-run Taiwan Power Company, which is the builder and operator of the three nuclear power plants, will move immediately to terminate the operations of the No. 1, No. 2 and No 3 nuclear power plants in case of a Fukushima-style earthquake and tsunami striking Taiwan, said Chen Chao-yih, vice chairman of the MOEA`s Commission of National Corporations.
Taipower will take the "execution" move -- aimed at keeping radiation from the generators from leaking -- immediately, without first consulting any supervising agencies, including the Atomic Energy Council (AEC), Chen said at a legislative hearing.
Chen added, however, that the designs and construction of the three nuclear power plants currently in operation are all more advanced than Japan`s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, which was damaged after a magnitude 9 earthquake struck northeastern Japan on March 11, triggering tsunami waves of more than 30 meters high and a yet-to-be-resolved nuclear crisis.
Also speaking at the hearing, dubbed "What has Taiwan learned from Japan`s nuclear crisis?" Hsu Ming-teh, an AEC deputy director in charge of nuclear energy management, said Taipower is required to complete a phase-one overall safety review on the three existing nuclear power plants by the end of June.
The safety review will focus on strengthening the quake resistance level of the nuclear power plants` electricity and water supply systems, he added.
According to Hsu, all three plants are located near fault lines.
As the strength of earthquakes are related to the length of the faults, the AEC has required Taipower to organize a panel of geological specialists to determine relevant facts. (*)
Editor: Ella Syafputri
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
