TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Nuclear Safety Commission used drones, helicopters, and unmanned transport devices during a three-day nuclear emergency drill at the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung to enhance response capabilities, CNA reported.
The drill, which concluded Thursday, simulated a nuclear accident triggered by natural disasters and geopolitical events, including a prolonged Chinese blockade. It tested the plant’s ability to operate independently, ensuring sufficient water and power supplies to prevent spent fuel rods in the cooling pool from overheating.
Key response operations included firefighting and rescue. Scenarios also involved an incident in which a fuel-handling machine struck spent fuel, potentially causing a radioactive leak.
On Thursday, the commission collaborated with the county government, military, and Taipower personnel on radiation detection and sampling drills in the waters near the plant, followed by a radiation detection exercise on land. The agency plans to integrate the collected data into its system for easier management.
Drones are suitable for confirming surrounding radiation levels during the initial response to an incident, the commission said. Helicopters can then be used to conduct large-area radioactive fallout surveys. Unmanned transport devices, which typically operate in highly contaminated areas, can coordinate with the aerial detection to help reduce personnel exposure to radiation.
In the early phase of an emergency, the commission focuses on strengthening environmental radiation monitoring and detection. The agency also provides wind direction forecasts and conducts radioactive fallout dispersion simulations to help evacuate residents from high-risk areas.
Taipower also unveiled its measures for drone intrusions at the plant. If a drone is detected entering the facility, security personnel will first use jamming guns to force it to return or land safely in a designated area. Additional surveillance equipment has also been installed to ensure that radioactive materials do not leak.
Although the plant was decommissioned in May and the incident risk is relatively low, the commission will continue working with Taipower to stay prepared for emergencies, since pools still store spent fuel.
