Decommissioning period for first nuclear plant to start in December: AEC

Taiwan News 
Date: 2018/10/13
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

A nuclear waste storage facility. (By Central News Agency)

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – In a report to be presented to the Legislative Yuan next Monday, the Cabinet-level Atomic Energy Council (AEC) says the repackaging of nuclear waste on Orchid Island should be completed by September 2020.

For decades, low-radioactive waste from Taiwan’s three nuclear plants has been stored on the island, which lies off the coast of Taitung County and is mostly inhabited by indigenous people.

Repeated protests amid health and safety concerns led to attempts to find alternative storage sites, while the current government promised to make Taiwan nuclear-free by 2025.

On August 6, the local government on Orchid Island wrote to state utility Taiwan Power Corporation (Taipower) that it agreed with the resumption of transfers of repackaged nuclear waste, the Central News Agency reported Saturday.    [FULL  STORY]