The operating license of unit 1 generator in the First Nuclear Power Plant located at Shimen District in New Taipei City shall expire today (20181205). This generator is the first nuclear generator in Taiwan and is also the first nuclear generator which is at the stage of decommissioning in its lifecycle. Taipower said that the operating license of unit 1 generator in the First Nuclear Power Plant is valid for a period of 40 years. The generator shall be at the stage of decommissioning the next day after the license expires and shall officially stop operating by law. The decommissioning plan of the First Nuclear Power Plant has been approved by Atomic Energy Council on June 28th 2017 and is waiting for the approval of Environmental Protection Administration after undergoing the environmental assessment. The decommissioning shall be officially processed after obtaining the Decommissioning Permit issued by Atomic Energy Council.
Taipower pointed out that in accordance with international obligations in nuclear plant decommissioning process, the decommissioning can only be physically processed when the used nuclear fuel is removed from the reactor. The used fuel of the First Nuclear Power Plant is now placed in reactor core and used fuel pool. It is safe to place the used fuel in reactor core, dry storage containers or used fuel pool. Comparatively, it is safer if the used fuel is placed in dry storage containers where it is cooled down by natural air flow rather than using electrical equipment or water to cool it, which shall smooth the decommissioning process of the power plant. Taipower stressed that the decommissioning plan of the First Nuclear Power Plant has already been well prepared. Taipower shall conduct ongoing environmental monitoring when the decommissioning process is activated in the future to ensure that it won’t have any impact on people’s health.
