Progress continues in nuclear waste management, with the outdoor dry storage project at Kuosheng Nuclear Power Plant set to commence construction. A Taipower representative pointed out that, in 2015, the soil and water conservation plan for the outdoor dry storage facility at Kuosheng was approved by the Council of Agriculture (now the Ministry of Agriculture). Subsequently, after nine years of effort, the Construction Site Plan for Reduction of Pollutants from Runoff Wastewater required for building the dry storage facility was approved by the New Taipei City Government this past August (2024). Approval for construction commencement was granted in November. Today (December 31), Taipower held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction, symbolizing a solid first step in the steady progress toward nuclear power decommissioning.

A Taipower representative explained that the outdoor dry storage facility at Kuosheng will use dry storage casks designed by NAC International, a nuclear equipment company based in the US. A total of 27 casks are planned for the outdoor facility, with each cask capable of storing 87 spent fuel assemblies. Construction is expected to be completed by 2026. After obtaining a completion certificate from the New Taipei City Government, the facility will undergo commissioning tests, including cold tests and hot tests; then, Taipower will apply to the Nuclear Safety Commission for an operating license. Taipower projects obtaining the license in 2027.

A Taipower representative stated that the dry storage facility is a critical preliminary component of the decommissioning project. Only after construction is completed and an operating license is obtained can the spent nuclear fuel be gradually removed from the reactor, and only then can the decommissioning process be implemented at full scale. During construction, all work will be carried out in strict accordance with the approved Environmental Impact Statement and Soil and Water Conservation Plan. Taipower will closely monitor construction quality and ensure that all work complies with nuclear safety regulations and occupational safety and quality control standards, as Taipower completes this key project in the decommissioning of Kuosheng Nuclear Power Plant.

Spokesperson: Vice President Tsai Chih-Meng 
Phone: (02) 2366-6271/0958-749-333
Email: u910707@taipower.com.tw

Contact Person: Department of Nuclear Back-end Management Director Liao Ying-Chen
Phone: (02)2365-7210 ext. 2200/0953-685-053
Email: u880803@taipower.com.tw