Taiwan Power Co (Taipower) has received approval for plans to store used fuel at the closed Kuosheng NPP in New Taipei City’s Wanli District and proceed with its decommissioning.
The process of decommissioning began in July 2019, but work on removing used fuel or dismantling had stalled due to the lack of a storage facility. Original plans had called for a dry storage facility to be built on the site in 2017, but disagreements with the New Taipei City Government over Taipower’s plans for water and soil conservation at the site had prevented any progress.
In April an agreement was reached with the city government through administrative mediation and on 10 May New Taipei City approved the changes to plans for water conservation and an outdoor dry storage facility. Taipower has begun work on the dry storage facility and said it would begin work on plans for water and soil conservation were approved, it would start working on them in January 2025. Work to remove used fuel assemblies would start at the end of 2026.
The company’s plans for the decommissioned plant would follow a 25-year time frame, which would involve storing used fuel, dismantling the reactors, and restoring soil and water quality at the site. It would constantly monitor radiation levels and would ensure the site’s safety before building a park for public use on the site in the final two years of the plan.
In view the delays. Taipower said it would need to adjust the schedule for the plant’s demolition to ensure safe conditions for workers.Equipment outside of the plant, including the steel tower, gas turbine generator and waste trench, had already been dismantled and dismantling of the main generator, turbine building and peripheral equipment would be completed by the end of the year.
Taipower added that plans for the decommissioning of the Maanshan NPP in Pingtung County had been approved by the Nuclear Safety Commission in April 2023, and environmental assessment was underway. Decommissioning work is expected to begin in May 2025 after the operating licence for unit 2 expires. Unit 1 was closed in July. Bids for the construction of an indoor dry storage facility for the plant would be invited with the aim of starting used fuel removal within five to six years.
