TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Nuclear Safety Commission will conduct a three-day nuclear emergency response drill starting Tuesday at the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung, with participation from the county government, the military, and Taipower personnel.
The drill will simulate a nuclear accident triggered by natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis. It will also simulate damage to the power plant's spent fuel pool and practice how to respond to a scenario where a fuel-handling machine accidentally falls, hits spent fuel, and causes a release of radioactive material, per CNA.
The first day of the drill will take place inside the plant and will include activating backup power, emergency water injection into the spent fuel pool, clearing obstacles for machinery, and personnel rescue operations, the commission said.
The drill will also include external radiation monitoring around the plant, evacuation and sheltering of nearby residents, and nuclear safety education from Wednesday to Thursday. The military will deploy helicopters to assist the commission in conducting radiation detection exercises.
Wang Chung-te (王重德), an official of the commission, said that Taiwan's nuclear power plants are required to conduct a safety drill every three years. He noted that while the Maanshan plant was decommissioned in May, a drill is still necessary because used fuel is stored in the spent fuel pool.
The drill will also simulate a long-term Chinese blockade of the coast, Wang added. The goal is to ensure the plant can maintain its own water and electricity supplies to prevent fuel rods in the cooling pool from overheating and causing a radiation accident.
A national referendum on Aug. 23 failed to pass a proposal to restart the nuclear plant, with 4,341,432 votes in favor and 1,511,693 votes against. The result did not meet the threshold requiring "yes" votes from at least 25% of all eligible voters.
