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No need to stop nuclear power plant operations: president

ROC Central News Agency

2011/03/15 18:14:52

By Garfie Li and Lilian Wu

Taipei, March 15 (CNA) President Ma Ying-jeou said Tuesday that there was no need to shut down operations at Taiwan's three nuclear power plants despite public concerns over the growing crisis at a plant in tsunami-ravaged northeastern Japan.

Taiwan's first nuclear power plant was undergoing yearly maintenance, and the two other power stations were operating normally and did not have to be closed, the president said.

"If we wanted to suspend the operations of the second and the third plants, it would have to be because of serious risks. We have not seen such a situation so there is no need to do so, " Ma said while at the Atomic Energy Council to hear a briefing on the problems faced by the Fukushima Daiichi power plant.

Repeated explosions at the Japanese plant since it was battered by a massive earthquake and tsunami on Friday have fueled fears of a pending meltdown and a heavy release of radiation, while also renewing questions about the safety of nuclear power.

The government was aware of the potential threat, Ma said, and it has reviewed safety and response measures.

"The consensus is there to enhance safety measures, and this government's policy is moving along that direction, " the president said.

Part of that, he said, would be to enhance the capacity of Taiwan's fourth nuclear power plant, which is currently under construction, to withstand multiple disasters, such as the combination of an earthquake and a tsunami seen in Japan, he said.

Initial indications are that the Fukushima facility suffered from vibrations measuring 6 on the intensity scale and a 10-meter high tsunami, and Ma said that if the same thing happened in Taiwan, the three operating plants were all designed to withstand shocks of a similar magnitude.

But that did not mean Taiwan could be complacent, and further reviews are needed to be see if safety measures can be strengthened, the president said.

To better cope with the onset of multiple disasters, the Ministry of the Interior has planned escape routes and first aid packs for an emergency that would be tested through drills, and an emergency text messaging system was also being considered, Ma said.

One case that may test the government's commitment to safety is the application by state-run utility Taiwan Power Company, which operates Taiwan's nuclear power plants, to extend the service life of the first plant 20 years beyond the 40 years it was originally designed for.

Critics have urged that the application be denied, but Ma said, "We'll have to make a further review, taking into consideration world trends and our demand for energy."

Prior to the meeting, the president led Cabinet officials, including Vice Premier Sean Chen, Atomic Energy Council Minister Tsai Chuen-horng, National Science Council Minister Lee Lou-chuang, Interior Minister Jiang Yi-huah and Economic Affairs Minister Shih Yen-hsiang, to observe a minute of silence for victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

The Japanese government is now saying it expects the death toll from the disaster to rise above 10,000.