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U.S. continues close cooperation with Taiwan on nuclear energy

ROC Central News Agency

2011/12/13 22:55:43

By Elaine Hou

Taipei, Dec. 13 (CNA) The United States will continue its long and close cooperation with Taiwan in the field of nuclear energy amid global challenges concerning climate and energy, a visiting high-ranking U.S. official said Tuesday.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman, the highest-ranking official from Washington to have visited Taipei in over a decade, said the U.S. and Taiwan have collaborated for over 50 years on nuclear energy, a fact that highlights the close scientific and technological partnerships between the two sides.

In addition to ongoing academic exchanges and government-level cooperation on nuclear-power issues, both sides are also "continuing to work closely on nuclear emergency preparedness and response mechanisms," Poneman said, adding that it is a top priority for both countries.

Nuclear safety is a prominent issue worldwide, especially in the wake of the crisis at Japan's nuclear power complex in Fukushima, which was triggered by a powerful magnitude-9 earthquake on March 11.

"In the aftermath of Fukushima, we are all taking steps to apply the lessons learned to our domestic nuclear industries and to make an assessment on the role of nuclear power in our energy future," Poneman said in a 27-minute speech at National Taiwan University.

Following the Fukushima accident, both the U.S. and Taiwan conducted comprehensive nuclear safety checks on their nuclear power plants and took actions to address possible risks, added Poneman, who is on a three-day visit to Taiwan that will conclude Wednesday.

Asked to comment on a proposal that Taiwan should retire its existing nuclear plants and stop constructing more nuclear power facilities after the completion of its fourth one, Poneman said "it's something entirely people here to decide."

Poneman, however, said he could only share the logic applied by the U.S. that nuclear power is a constructive part of its energy portfolio to achieve its goal of doubling clean energy sources by 2035 and reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent by 2020.

He reiterated, though, that the world has to learn from the Fukushima incident and use such energy sources very cautiously.