Proposed Location for Ministry's Radioactive Waste Disposal Office Discussed; End-Year Legislation Targeted
4 April 2025 路 Uncategorized 路
Facing the 'big monster' of nuclear waste, the Ministry of Economic Affairs is making urgent preparations for a special office dedicated to radioactive waste disposal. According to insiders, this office will be based at Taipower's Taipei South District Business Office in Banqiao City and has already decided on an external scholar as its director. Once personnel are finalized, they plan to draft legislation regarding high-level nuclear waste site selection with hopes of submitting it for approval by year-end.
Following Unit 2 of Nuclear Power Plant Three shutting down on May 17th, Taiwan officially entered a 'nuclear-free homeland' era; however, regardless of whether or not we continue using nuclear power in the future, addressing radioactive waste disposal is an issue that cannot be ignored.
For this reason, the Ministry of Economic Affairs has been preparing for the establishment of such an office and internal staff operations are underway. Initially there were plans to appoint a retired Taipower employee as director but due to concerns over impartiality, they have since turned their attention towards external scholars.
Once established, experts from Taipower, Nuclear Safety Council (NSC), academia will be invited into the process of nuclear waste site selection legislation promotion.
Radioactive wastes are categorized into high and low-level radioactive materials. The former refers specifically to spent fuel rods while all other types fall under low-level radioactive material classification. Currently in Taiwan, only a final disposal facility location regulation exists for low-level radioactive waste with NSC as its supervisory authority and the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) serving as the main administrative body; however, there is no legal framework yet established concerning high-level nuclear waste.
In fact, Atomic Energy Council had announced amendments to 'Regulations on Setting Up Sites for Final Disposal Facilities for Radioactive Waste' in 2018 which aimed at incorporating regulations governing both low and high level radioactive wastes. The draft included a feedback mechanism during the site selection process as well as extending public consultation periods until operation stages, but due to political opposition it was withdrawn before its official announcement period ended.
Presently officials are leaning towards maintaining separate legislation for each category of waste disposal while MOEA will take on responsibility over high-level nuclear waste siting legislative duties. A knowledgeable source stated that once the director is confirmed, they would refer to NSC's previous regulations and international practices in drafting new laws with a goal set at completing an initial framework by year-end.
Industry insiders believe based on past experiences of low level radioactive waste site selection processes where despite two locations (Tatun Township in Taitung County and Wufu Island in Kinmen) being selected, both stalled due to local governments' reluctance towards holding referendums. This highlights the importance of detailed design for feedback mechanisms during siting procedures which will test MOEA's wisdom.
Regarding suggestions from Taipower about narrowing down referendum scope, this insider pointed out that current laws only distinguish between national and county-level referenda while even if public voting requirements were removed in favor of local government head approval alone, policy continuity could still be jeopardized by changes in political leadership. Therefore, maintaining the necessity for a referendum is crucial to ensure stable policies.
NSC officials cited South Korea's example where early opposition against low level radioactive waste site selection was equally intense but differences lie within flexible accompanying measures such as providing NT$1 billion compensation funds which continue post-operation and ensuring local residents' employment rights along with increased social welfare benefits. Even encouraging industrial establishments in the area is part of their strategy.
In South Korea, all four referendums passed successfully leading to Gyeongju being chosen for low-level nuclear waste disposal site while support rates among non-selected towns exceeded 67%. The official emphasized that this demonstrates how key it is for legislation on siting policies to emphasize coexistence and mutual prosperity with local communities.
(Author: Tseng Chih-Yi; Image Source: Ohio State University)
Following Unit 2 of Nuclear Power Plant Three shutting down on May 17th, Taiwan officially entered a 'nuclear-free homeland' era; however, regardless of whether or not we continue using nuclear power in the future, addressing radioactive waste disposal is an issue that cannot be ignored.
For this reason, the Ministry of Economic Affairs has been preparing for the establishment of such an office and internal staff operations are underway. Initially there were plans to appoint a retired Taipower employee as director but due to concerns over impartiality, they have since turned their attention towards external scholars.
Once established, experts from Taipower, Nuclear Safety Council (NSC), academia will be invited into the process of nuclear waste site selection legislation promotion.
Radioactive wastes are categorized into high and low-level radioactive materials. The former refers specifically to spent fuel rods while all other types fall under low-level radioactive material classification. Currently in Taiwan, only a final disposal facility location regulation exists for low-level radioactive waste with NSC as its supervisory authority and the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) serving as the main administrative body; however, there is no legal framework yet established concerning high-level nuclear waste.
In fact, Atomic Energy Council had announced amendments to 'Regulations on Setting Up Sites for Final Disposal Facilities for Radioactive Waste' in 2018 which aimed at incorporating regulations governing both low and high level radioactive wastes. The draft included a feedback mechanism during the site selection process as well as extending public consultation periods until operation stages, but due to political opposition it was withdrawn before its official announcement period ended.
Presently officials are leaning towards maintaining separate legislation for each category of waste disposal while MOEA will take on responsibility over high-level nuclear waste siting legislative duties. A knowledgeable source stated that once the director is confirmed, they would refer to NSC's previous regulations and international practices in drafting new laws with a goal set at completing an initial framework by year-end.
Industry insiders believe based on past experiences of low level radioactive waste site selection processes where despite two locations (Tatun Township in Taitung County and Wufu Island in Kinmen) being selected, both stalled due to local governments' reluctance towards holding referendums. This highlights the importance of detailed design for feedback mechanisms during siting procedures which will test MOEA's wisdom.
Regarding suggestions from Taipower about narrowing down referendum scope, this insider pointed out that current laws only distinguish between national and county-level referenda while even if public voting requirements were removed in favor of local government head approval alone, policy continuity could still be jeopardized by changes in political leadership. Therefore, maintaining the necessity for a referendum is crucial to ensure stable policies.
NSC officials cited South Korea's example where early opposition against low level radioactive waste site selection was equally intense but differences lie within flexible accompanying measures such as providing NT$1 billion compensation funds which continue post-operation and ensuring local residents' employment rights along with increased social welfare benefits. Even encouraging industrial establishments in the area is part of their strategy.
In South Korea, all four referendums passed successfully leading to Gyeongju being chosen for low-level nuclear waste disposal site while support rates among non-selected towns exceeded 67%. The official emphasized that this demonstrates how key it is for legislation on siting policies to emphasize coexistence and mutual prosperity with local communities.
(Author: Tseng Chih-Yi; Image Source: Ohio State University)