•Publication Date：11/01/2011
•Source： Taiwan Today
•By Rachel Chan
Taiwan’s fourth nuclear power plant is expected to enter commercial operation no later than 2017, Minister of Economic Affairs Shih Yen-shiang said Oct. 31.
“The exact date is yet to be determined, but will not be later than 2017,” Shih told the Legislative Yuan’s Economics Committee.
Taiwan Power Co. Chairman Edward K. M. Chen said at a news conference after the interpellation session that his company and the Ministry of Economic Affairs are still estimating when the No. 4 Longmen nuclear power plant in New Taipei City’s Gongliao District can go on line because of ongoing improvement work, which includes the installation of emergency diesel generators.
The project to provide backup power for the facility came after an earthquake and tsunami crippled Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi plant in March, triggering a nuclear crisis, he explained.
“Personally I think the exact date could be announced early next year,” Chen said.
The fourth nuclear power plant was scheduled to open Dec. 15 this year, but has been repeatedly put off, mainly because of unsatisfactory trial runs. Chen estimated that each year of delay would increase costs by NT$5 billion (US$166.7 million).
ROC President Ma Ying-jeou has promised to soon reveal his new energy policy, which is believed to focus on reducing Taiwan’s reliance on nuclear power. It is certain that Taipower, which operates the nuclear power plants, will not be allowed to extend the scheduled 40-year service period of the three existing plants.
It is expected that whether the No. 1 plant at Jinshan in New Taipei City’s Shimen District is decommissioned early will depend on the commercial operation of the fourth plant and the stability of electricity supplies from Taipower.
According to Chen, the two reactors at the No.1 nuclear plant are expected to be decommissioned in 2018 and 2019, respectively, while the two at the No. 2 Guosheng facility in the Wanli District of New Taipei City will be closed down in 2021 and 2023. Those at the No. 3 Ma-anshan plant in southern Pingtung County’s Hengchun Township are scheduled to cease operation in 2024 and 2025, he added.
He stressed that the fourth plant will have to complete fueling and test runs, as well as receive approval from the Cabinet-level Atomic Energy Council and international nuclear safety organizations before starting commercial operation.
Asked whether electricity rates would go up after the decommissioning of the three existing plants, Chen declined to comment, saying that Taipower would only be able to make the necessary calculations after being officially notified of the plant closures by the MOEA.
