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Welcoming the Year of the Snake: The NSC Continues Oversight of Nuclear Material Safety
Last Update: Jan 24, 2025
The Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC) has achieved significant progress in regulating the safety of radioactive waste at nuclear power plants in 2024. In September 2013, the NSC approved the comprehensive functional verification of the outdoor dry storage facility at the Chinshan Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), allowing Taiwan Power Company (TPC) to conduct hot tests in accordance with the pre-operational plan. Following the issuance of a soil and water conservation completion certificate by the New Taipei City Government on October 15, 2024, TPC commenced hot test on October 23. To supervise the safety of hot test, the NSC implemented inspections daily to ensure that all procedures complied with the Limiting Conditions for Operation (LCO) outlined in the safety analysis report. TPC successfully completed the hot test on December 18, 2024. During the process, 2 casks containing 112 spent fuel bundles have transferred from the spent fuel pool to the dry storage facility.
In response to the decommissioning needs of the Chinshan NPP, TPC submitted an application to construct a new low-level radioactive waste (LLW) storage facility. After rigorous review by the NSC, with input from experts, scholars, and public hearings, the NSC confirmed that the application met all relevant safety regulations and issued a construction permit on July 17, 2024. The NSC will continue to oversee the quality and safety of the facility during the construction phase. Furthermore, the diversification of decommissioning waste containers has become a global trend. In 2024, the NSC approved TPC’s application for five types of LLW containers, enhancing the safety of decommissioning operations at nuclear power plants.
The NSC has emphasized its strict oversight of the safety of radioactive waste facilities over the past year. In 2024, no incidents related to occupational or radiation safety were reported. In June 2024, the NSC approved the decommissioning completion report for the new nuclear fuel storage facility at the Chinshan NPP. The facility, which had previously stored new nuclear fuel with low contamination levels, has been repurposed as a general warehouse to facilitate space utilization during decommissioning. Regarding the transport of nuclear fuel, the NSC approved TPC’s application in May 2024 to import 20 bundles of nuclear fuel for the Maanshan NPP. This ensures the continued operation of Reactor Unit 2 until the expiration of its operating license. The NSC closely monitored the entire transport process to ensure compliance with relevant regulations.
Looking ahead, the NSC reaffirmed its commitment to rigorous oversight. It will meticulously review the Chinshan NPP’s application for a dry storage operation license, ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations and safety standards before granting approval. Additionally, the construction of the outdoor dry storage facility at the Kuosheng NPP commenced on January 2, 2025. The NSC will follow regulatory procedures to conduct on-site inspections so as to ensure the quality of the facility’s construction. TPC also plans to submit an application in 2025 for the construction of a new LLW storage facility to facilitate the decommissioning of the Kuosheng NPP. The NSC will leverage its past experience to ensure public safety.
【Press Release Contact Point】
1.Nuclear Fuel and Materials Section, Fuel Cycle and Materials Regulation Office
Section Chief Kuo-Cheng Yen (O) 02-8231-7919＃2330 (M) 0912-348-608
2.Issued by: Education and Development Section, General Planning Office
Section Chief Nien-Chun Tsai (O) 02-8231-7919 #2070 (M) 0912-558-352
Technical Specialist Yen-Hsien Li (O) 02-8231-7919 #2072 (M) 0988-826-697
