Nuclear Waste Problem Remains After Failed Referendum

TaiwanPlus News

After the referendum on restarting nuclear power failed, official and civil nuclear watchers are raising awareness about existing issues of where and how to store highly radioactive spent fuel rods.

Transcript

00:00Voters in Taiwan have decided not to bring back nuclear power in a nationwide referendum,

00:09with the yes votes failing to meet the threshold to pass.

00:12Still, the number of votes cast in favor was almost triple the number of votes against,

00:18indicating strong public support for the energy source.

00:21Now, with President Lai Qingde saying he will not rule out the possibility of a nuclear comeback

00:26in a response to the referendum result, and the legislature passing an amendment

00:31to allow a 20-year extension on nuclear power plant licenses this May.

00:36Some practical problems are back in the spotlight.

00:39For the past decades, the highly radioactive spent fuel rods have been stored in the

01:09these pools inside the plants, while low-level radioactive waste, such as contaminated construction

01:15materials, have been stored in the plants and on the outlying Orchid Island.

01:20Taiwan's state-run power company, Tai Power, has a plan to build more dry storage facilities

01:25on site, as the current ones reach capacity.

01:29One pro-nuclear environmental group says the issue could be easily resolved.

01:33But the anti-nuclear camp says it's not just about space. There are also maintenance problems.

01:56Dry storage facilities last four or five decades, after which they run the risk of radiation leaks.

02:03However, dry storage is only a temporary solution, and there are no laws to decide where to dispose of the spent fuel permanently.

02:32As discussions around Taiwan's nuclear energy policy continue, waste management will continue to be a big issue,

02:39likely for generations to come.

02:41Hank Xu and Irene Lin for Taiwan Plus.

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