Image Credit: Taiwan News
New Taipei City Government on Wednesday conducted a nuclear safety drill simulating a response to a potential accident at the Jinshan Nuclear Power Plant. Although the plant is being decommissioned, spent nuclear fuel remains on-site, prompting authorities to practise emergency measures, according to the city’s fire department chief, Chen Chung-yueh.
The exercise, involving around 300 military, fire department, and local government personnel alongside 500 residents of Shimen District, aimed to test evacuation procedures, logistical operations, and public safety protocols. The drill assumed a scenario where water overflowed from the plant’s spent fuel pools, reflecting past incidents at nuclear facilities in Japan following earthquakes. Emergency teams rehearsed the process of refilling the pools to prevent any potential safety breach.
New Taipei Deputy Mayor Chu Ti-chih expressed his appreciation for the coordination and dedication shown by the emergency responders and local participants during the drill. He noted the importance of maintaining robust safety protocols despite the plant’s ongoing decommissioning, emphasising that New Taipei will continue to conduct such exercises to refine their response strategies.
The Jinshan Nuclear Power Plant, which began operations in 1978, entered the decommissioning phase in 2018. Taiwan Power Co., the plant’s operator, reached an agreement with the New Taipei City Government in May to construct a spent nuclear storage facility, concluding a protracted dispute over environmental safety concerns. The removal of spent fuel from the plant is scheduled to commence in 2026.
Public safety measures during the drill included a military helicopter delivering emergency supplies to a local elementary school and testing public warning systems. Chen stressed that ensuring nuclear safety remains a priority despite the plant’s shutdown, underscoring the city’s commitment to safeguarding the community against potential nuclear hazards.
Chu reaffirmed New Taipei’s dedication to enhancing nuclear safety, highlighting that ongoing drills play a critical role in strengthening the city’s emergency response capabilities.