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U.S. to help Taiwan handle nuclear emergencies

ROC Central News Agency

2011/04/30 21:13:26

Taipei, April 30 (CNA) Taiwan will sign a letter of intent with the United States on cooperation in handling nuclear or radiation emergencies, the deputy minister of the Cabinet-level Atomic Energy Council (AEC) said Saturday.

"The pact will pave the way for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) under the U.S. Department of Energy to assist us in case of nuclear emergencies, " said AEC Deputy Minister Shieh Der-jhy.

Shieh, who will depart for the U.S. Sunday to sign the accord on behalf of Taiwan, said the recent radiation crisis at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which was crippled in earthquake/tsunami disasters that struck the country on March 11, has prompted major countries around the world to review their energy policies and nuclear power safety.

Japan's plight has also led the United States, a major nuclear technology exporting country, to show unprecedented concern about Taiwan's response capability, Shieh said.

Besides its agencies in charge of nuclear energy matters, such as the NNSA and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Shieh said, the country's Department of State has also expressed concern about Taiwan's nuclear energy management model and regulations.

Shieh was referring to A. W. Reynolds, a science and technology adviser to the U.S. secretary of state, who took the initiative to visit Taiwan's nuclear power plant during his recent visit to Taipei to attend a global high-tech forum.

According to Shieh, Reynolds visited Taiwan's No. 1 nuclear power plant in New Taipei City Friday to learn more about the plant's emergency response equipment and measures.

In addition to signing the letter of intent on cooperation in nuclear emergency response, Shieh said he and some other AEC staff members will also meet with their NRC counterparts on nuclear safety issues.

For years, Shieh said, staff members from the two agencies have met annually either in the U.S. or in Taiwan to review Taiwan's nuclear safety control systems and measures.

During his upcoming U.S. trip, Shieh said he will also visit several NNSA laboratories and some units under the Department of Energy to learn more about the U.S. policy on nuclear energy in the wake of the recent Japanese nuclear crisis as well as its possible new radition control measures. He is scheduled to return on May 25. (By Yang Shu-min and Sofia Wu) enditem/jc