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Taiwan moves to increase the liability of nuclear operators

the draft proposes that operators be responsible for natural disaster damage. The draft also raises the time in which an injured individual can seek compensation from nuclear power plant operators to 10 years from the current three years. 
Nuclear damage caused by natural disasters could be compensated, Taiwan News, Taipei, Sept. 29 (CNA) Operators of nuclear facilities could be required to provide compensation for emergencies caused by major natural disasters, according to a draft revision approved by the Executive Yuan on Thursday. Continue reading

September 30, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, Taiwan | Leave a comment

Taiwanese government not taking nuclear risks seriously

Nuclear safety inaction pannedBy Lee I-chia  Taipei Times   Staff Reporte, 12 July 11, Four months after a powerful earthquake and tsunami sparked a crisis at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in Japan, environmental protection activists yesterday said the Taiwanese government remained flippant about nuclear safety.

RISKS:The former head of an anti-nuclear group said problems could occur at the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant given a lack of experienced engineers working there.

During a press conference at the legislature, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Tien Chiu-chin (田秋堇) said that if an earthquake of similar magnitude occurred in Taiwan, the operating power plants might be unable to withstand the impact and catastrophe might ensue at tremendous cost to society.

There are 108 schools located within a 20km radius of the Jinshan, Guosheng and Fourth Nuclear Power Plants in New Taipei City’s (新北市) Shihmen (石門), Wanli (萬里) and Gongliao (貢寮) districts respectively, Tien said.

“If something goes wrong at any one of the three plants, many schools will face total evacuation,” she said…..http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2011/07/12/2003508030

July 12, 2011 Posted by | safety, Taiwan | Leave a comment

Public kept in the dark as Taiwan passes unpopular pro nuclear budget

Green Citizen Action Alliance secretary-general Tsuei Su-hsin (崔愫欣) said it was undemocratic for legislators to arbitrarily pass the huge budget when many of the details are kept secret from the public, not to mention barring citizens from observing the voting process from inside the legislature.

Lawmakers pass new nuclear funding,  Taipei Times, By Shih Hsiu-chuan and Lee I-chia14 June The legislature yesterday voted down a set of anti-nuclear motions proposed by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Holding just one-third of the legislative seats, the DPP failed in 11 attempts to block the use of nuclear power, despite support from anti-nuclear activists who have staged a protest outside the legislature since Sunday night. Continue reading

June 14, 2011 Posted by | politics, Taiwan | Leave a comment

Injustice of nuclear waste near Taiwan’s indigenous people

it was unfair for Aborigines, who usually consume less energy than other people in Taiwan, to be exposed to the dangers of coal mines in the past, and now nuclear waste….

Lawmakers pass new nuclear funding,  Taipei Times, By Shih Hsiu-chuan and Lee I-chia 14 June “……Pani (拔耐), an Aboriginal woman and cofounder of Raging Citizens Act Now, provided a clear picture of the implications of nuclear energy for ordinary citizens. Continue reading

June 14, 2011 Posted by | Taiwan, wastes | Leave a comment

Thousands of Taiwanese in anti nuclear protest

Thousands protest against nuclear plant in Taiwan, Google News, (AFP) 1 May 11, TAIPEI — Thousands of Taiwanese took to the streets on Saturday to protest against a new nuclear power station as safety concerns mounted in the wake of the atomic crisis in Japan, an organiser said. Continue reading

May 2, 2011 Posted by | opposition to nuclear, Taiwan | Leave a comment

2.000 Taiwanese protest against nuclear power

DPP Taipei City Councilwoman Hsu Chia-ching told IPS that “no one is advocating an immediate cessation of generation, but a gradual and balanced phase-out”.
In response to questions as to whether refusing to allow the new facility to operate would be a waste of money, Tsai said that “allowing Nuclear Four to operate and generate more radioactive spent fuel and waste would create a greater tragedy.”

TAIWAN Opposition Urges Nuclear Phase-out By 2025,  IPS ipsnews.net, By Dennis Engbarth, 28 March 11, Over 2,000 protestors participated in a “We Love Taiwan, We Don’t Want Nuclear Disaster” march in Taipei City. Opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairwoman and former Vice Premier Tsai Ing-wen has announced a proposal for a “2025 Non-Nuclear Home Plan” that will allow Taiwan to eliminate reliance on nuclear power by the end of 2025….

……. DPP Taipei City Councilwoman Hsu Chia-ching told IPS that “no one is advocating an immediate cessation of generation, but a gradual and balanced phase-out”.

In response to questions as to whether refusing to allow the new facility to operate would be a waste of money, Tsai said that “allowing Nuclear Four to operate and generate more radioactive spent fuel and waste would create a greater tragedy.”
“The damage to Japan’s society and economy, including tourism, agriculture, fishing and industry, is simply too huge, not to mention the costs of rebuilding,” National Taiwan University Professor of Atmospheric Sciences Hsu Kuang-jung told IPS, stressing that “the Fukushima incident is not yet over”.

“Nuclear power is the most expensive and risky method of power generation and if we don’t absolutely need it, why should we create so much danger and cause our people to live in fear?” asked Hsu. “The Taiwan people have never had a chance to directly express their will on whether to accept the risk of nuclear power.”

Over 2,000 residents near the fourth plant, environmentalists and opposition politicians participated in a rally last week with the theme “We Love Taiwan, We Don’t Want Nuclear Disasters”. …….
TAIWAN: Opposition Urges Nuclear Phase-out By 2025 – IPS ipsnews.net

March 28, 2011 Posted by | politics, Taiwan | Leave a comment

Safety and costs concerns stall Taiwan’s nuclear program

Taiwan May Delay Startup of its Fourth Nuclear Plant,  BusinessWeek, by Yu-Huay Sun in Taipei January 14, 2011  (Bloomberg) — Taiwan Power Co. may delay the startup of the island’s fourth nuclear plant for the fifth time since the state-run utility proposed the project in 1980………..Taipower, the island’s monopoly grid operator, had postponed four times the start of the No. 4 plant, located 40 kilometers (25 miles) east of Taipei, because of safety concerns and rising construction costs. The project costs about NT$280 billion ($9.65 billion), according to Huang. Taiwan May Delay Startup of its Fourth Nuclear Plant – BusinessWeek

January 15, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, Taiwan | Leave a comment

Delay to world’s most expensive nuclear plant, in Taiwan

delays had blown up the budget for the plant to about $9 billion. This compares with a budget of about $3 billion when the project got off the ground in the 1990s, and according to the paper this would make it the world’s most expensive nuclear facility.

Taiwan’s new nuclear plant delayed, operator says – INQUIRER.net, Philippine News   01/07/2011 TAIPEI– The opening of a controversial new nuclear power plant in Taiwan that has already far exceeded its budget has been put back for months at a cost of hundreds of billions of dollars, its operator said Friday Continue reading

January 8, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, Taiwan | Leave a comment

Safety dangers in Taiwan nuclear power plant

The nuclear plant, in Kungliao, Taipei County, on the country’s north coast, has a decades-long history of problems.

Taipower faces fine over fourth nuclear plant: AEC – Taiwan News Online, 23 Aug 2010, Taiwan Power Corporation was facing a fine over its fourth nuclear plant even before it had started official operations, the Atomic Energy Council said yesterday. Continue reading

August 23, 2010 Posted by | safety, Taiwan | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Success of Taiwan’s antinuclear movement

For now, anti-nuclear forces are focused on opposing any plans for a nuclear dumping ground. Like the U.S. and Japan, Taiwan has not found a final resting place for its nuclear waste, another reason not to expand nuclear power, say activists.

Asia’s nuclear dilemma, Global Post, by Jonathon Adams, 21 March 2010, Taiwan’s activists have successfully slowed, if not stopped, the island’s nuclear expansion. …Save energy, don’t produce more.Kao Cheng-yan has some ideas about that.  Continue reading

March 22, 2010 Posted by | climate change, politics, Taiwan | , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Doubts on future for Taiwan nuclear plant

Doubt cast on new nuclear plant Taiwan News Central News Agency By Chou Pin-chun and Elizabeth Hsu Taipei, Jan. 19 (CNA) The Automatic Energy Council (AEC) , the highest authority of nuclear power management in Taiwan, has expressed doubt that the newly built Fourth Nuclear Power Plant can start full operations in late 2011 as scheduled, a spokesman for the council said Tuesday…………… Hsu, however, also pointed out that the planned schedule for full operations could be delayed by many factors, including possible glitches in the digital control equipment and generators.

Doubt cast on new nuclear plant – Taiwan News Online

January 20, 2010 Posted by | business and costs, Taiwan | Leave a comment

Renewable energy feed-in tariffs for Taiwan

Taiwan government sets renewable energy feed-in tariffs Bryan Chuang, Taipei; Adam Hwang, DIGITIMES   21 December 2009]
Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) on December 18 announced final feed-in tariffs for renewable energy which will come into effect until the end of 2010. Renewable energy generating systems approved by the Bureau of Energy from July 10, 2009, the date the Renewable Energy Development Statute came into effect, to December 31, 2010 are eligible for subsidization.

Taiwan government sets renewable energy feed-in tariffs

December 22, 2009 Posted by | renewable, Taiwan | , , | Leave a comment

Taiwan Aboriginal Village Targeted for Nuclear Waste Disposal

Taiwan Aboriginal Village Targeted for Nuclear Waste Disposal Tom’s Blog 4 Oct 09 Because failing to sell its nuclear waste to North Korea and China. (What the hell do these two countries want this staff? making nuclear weapons?) Now, the goverment of Taiwan is seeking a burial place at home. The top choice is a poor aboriginal community, Nantian village in Taitan county, the Southeastern of Taiwan……………… Continue reading

October 5, 2009 Posted by | 1, indigenous issues, Taiwan, wastes | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tribes protest nuclear waste plan

Tribes protest nuclear waste plan By Loa Iok-sin
STAFF REPORTER
TAIPEI TIMES  May 24, 2009 Led by a royal descendant of an ancient line of Aboriginal Paiwan kings, residents and environmentalists yesterday staged a parade in Daren Township (達仁), Taitung County, to protest Taiwan Power Co’s (Taipower) plan to build a storage facility for nuclear waste there………………Opposed to the plan, more than 100 Paiwan and Puyuma Aborigines and environmentalists rallied outside a local elementary school yesterday morning, where they were blessed by Paiwan elders in a traditional ritual before they departed. The demonstrators then carried a cross on a two-hour march to the site selected for the facility.

After arriving at the site, the demonstrators erected the cross and made a smoke signal to inform their ancestral spirits of their determination to defend their ancestral homeland………………………..“This region has long been a traditional domain of the Tacupul Kingdom, and it’s the job of all descendants of Tacupul to defend it,” said Sauljaljuy Ruvaniyaw, a member of the Ruvaniyaw family — the royal family of the Tacupul Kingdom that ruled in Daren and its neighboring areas hundreds of years ago………………….The rally and the march are only the beginning of the mobilization against the nuclear waste dumping ground, Ruvaniyaw said.

Taipei Times – archives

May 24, 2009 Posted by | Taiwan, wastes | , , , , | Leave a comment

Why one remote Taiwan village is giving nuclear waste the red carpet treatment

Why one remote Taiwan village is giving nuclear waste the red carpet treatment Minnesota Post By Jonathan Adams21 April 09 “……………………Critics of the plan say this poor village is merely being bought off by the government’s generous compensation proposal, and is low-balling the health risks. The debate highlights the growing problem of nuclear waste, as more nations — and especially, neighboring China — turn to this “cleaner” energy source to fuel their economies. It also points to a global phenomenon. Whether it’s inner-city America or a remote Aboriginal village in Taiwan, toxic and other waste often ends up dumped near the poorest, most marginalized communities. In Taiwan, Nantian Village is about as poor and marginal as they come……………….. Taiwan’s Aborigines — 2 percent of the population — are the island’s least advantaged, with poverty and alcoholism rates similar to those on Native American reservations in the U.S. Villagers talk about 5 billion — the payout, in New Taiwan dollars (about $150 million) — that the power company has said will go to the county. How much of that would go directly to these villagers is still unclear………………………..” http://www.minnpost.com/globalpost/2009/04/20/8193/why_one_remote_taiwan_village_is_giving_nuclear_waste_the_red_carpet_treatment

April 21, 2009 Posted by | indigenous issues, Taiwan | , , , | Leave a comment