Nuclear Experience in Taiwan

1. Nuclear Experience in Taiwan Taiwan Power Labor Union Yuan Mei-Ling Ladies and gentlemen: I am so pleased to be here today, on behave of my Union -Taiwan Power Labor Union, to present the Taiwan Union Report to you. My Union is organized by the employees of the sole state-owned power company-Taiwan Power Company, in Taiwan since 1958. Firstly, I would like to provide a few information required by the Meeting. Although without survey data, it is generally believed that the majority Taiwan people and most of labor unions support nuclear power. The newly inaugurated Taiwan government on this May 20th has switched from the nuclear-free energy policy to a more practical �sustainable energy policy�, emphasizing carbon reduction for environment protection. Ladies and gentlemen: I am so pleased to be here today, on behave of my Union -Taiwan Power Labor Union, to present the Taiwan Union Report to you. My Union is organized by the employees of the sole state-owned power company-Taiwan Power Company, in Taiwan since 1958. Firstly, I would like to provide a few information required by the Meeting. Although without survey data, it is generally believed that the majority Taiwan people and most of labor unions support nuclear power. The newly inaugurated Taiwan government on this May 20th has switched from the nuclear-free energy policy to a more practical �sustainable energy policy�, emphasizing carbon reduction for environment protection.

2. 1 My presentation will cover four major parts, Taiwan and Taipower, Taipower Nuclear Operation, Fourth NPP Project, Backend Management Initiatives. Finally I will make a concluding remarks.My presentation will cover four major parts, Taiwan and Taipower, Taipower Nuclear Operation, Fourth NPP Project, Backend Management Initiatives. Finally I will make a concluding remarks.

3. 2 Taiwan,ROC As you may know, Taiwan is an island located in the western Pacific Ocean, around 150KM from China Southeast coast, midway between Japan and Philippine. Taiwan has 23 million people with GNP per capita of 16,790 dollars. Especially, Taiwan is an active orogenics(??) and subtropical stormy area, with frequent earthquakes and typhoons. As you may know, Taiwan is an island located in the western Pacific Ocean, around 150KM from China Southeast coast, midway between Japan and Philippine. Taiwan has 23 million people with GNP per capita of 16,790 dollars. Especially, Taiwan is an active orogenics(??) and subtropical stormy area, with frequent earthquakes and typhoons.

4. 3 Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) Date of establishment:May 1, 1946. The sole hybrid power enterprise in Taiwan. Stocks:Government 96.9%, Public 3.1%. Employees:Approximately 26,000. Totally Installed Capacity:38.06 GWe, in 2007. Electricity Production:201.9 billion KWh, in 2007. This is a brief status of the Taipower.This is a brief status of the Taipower.

5. 4 The installed capacity(????) of Taipower is 38.06 GW in 2007. The total energy production(???) is 201.9 billion KWh in 2007. Of which the nuclear power contributes slightly less than 20%.The installed capacity(????) of Taipower is 38.06 GW in 2007. The total energy production(???) is 201.9 billion KWh in 2007. Of which the nuclear power contributes slightly less than 20%.

6. 5 This is the organization flow chart of nuclear related divisions of Taipower.This is the organization flow chart of nuclear related divisions of Taipower.

7. Taipower Nuclear Units This is a brief picture of nuclear power family members governed by Taipower. Three nuclear power stations named Chinshan (First) (BWR-4), Kuosheng (Second) (BWR-6), and Maanshan (Third) (PWR) NPPs in separate each with two identical units are being running well now. Chinshan NPP unit 1 and 2 are General Electric BWR-4 reactors each with 636 Mwe output. Commercial operations commenced in 1978 and 1979. Kuosheng NPP unit 1 and 2 are GE BWR-6 reactors each with 985 Mwe output. Maanshan NPP unit 1 and 2 are Westinghouse PWR designed reactors each with 951 Mwe output. All six units have been operating for over 20 years. This is a brief picture of nuclear power family members governed by Taipower. Three nuclear power stations named Chinshan (First) (BWR-4), Kuosheng (Second) (BWR-6), and Maanshan (Third) (PWR) NPPs in separate each with two identical units are being running well now. Chinshan NPP unit 1 and 2 are General Electric BWR-4 reactors each with 636 Mwe output. Commercial operations commenced in 1978 and 1979. Kuosheng NPP unit 1 and 2 are GE BWR-6 reactors each with 985 Mwe output. Maanshan NPP unit 1 and 2 are Westinghouse PWR designed reactors each with 951 Mwe output. All six units have been operating for over 20 years.

8. Taipower Nuclear Units The overall performance of Taipower�s 6 nuclear units was fairly good. According to WANO nine performance indicators, in 2006 we have 7 items above world average, of which 4 items are better than WANO�s best quartile. Additionally, a brand new power station named Fourth NPP is under construction. As of the date of commercial operation, the Fourth NPP unit 1 will be joining the nuclear family in summer of 2009 according to the latest Integrated Project Schedule. Unit 2 will be commercial operated in 2010. The overall performance of Taipower�s 6 nuclear units was fairly good. According to WANO nine performance indicators, in 2006 we have 7 items above world average, of which 4 items are better than WANO�s best quartile. Additionally, a brand new power station named Fourth NPP is under construction. As of the date of commercial operation, the Fourth NPP unit 1 will be joining the nuclear family in summer of 2009 according to the latest Integrated Project Schedule. Unit 2 will be commercial operated in 2010.

9. 8 Taipower Nuclear Operation- Retrospect Lacking sufficient local energy resource:98% of the primary energy depends on import Petroleum crisis in 1970�s Major national building project (1978~1985:6 Units) Nuclear installed capacity 50% in 1985 Creating decades of low electricity rates and low operation cost Supporting national economy growth To review the history of the nuclear operation in Taipower. Due to two major factors, lacking of sufficient local energy resources, and the petroleum crisis in 1970�s, Taipower chose to develop the nuclear power plants. During the period of 1978 to 1985, 6 nuclear units were constructed. The effect of this strategy not only supporting our nation�s economy growth, but also creating decades of low electricity rates for almost 20 years. In 1985, the share of nuclear power reached an all time high, 50% in Taipower�s total production.To review the history of the nuclear operation in Taipower. Due to two major factors, lacking of sufficient local energy resources, and the petroleum crisis in 1970�s, Taipower chose to develop the nuclear power plants. During the period of 1978 to 1985, 6 nuclear units were constructed. The effect of this strategy not only supporting our nation�s economy growth, but also creating decades of low electricity rates for almost 20 years. In 1985, the share of nuclear power reached an all time high, 50% in Taipower�s total production.

10. 9 Enhance the reliability of important to safety equipment. Rationalize nuclear regulation and localize the analyzing technique. Increase revenue and rebuild the core value of nuclear power. Reduce the volume of Low Level Radwaste. Reinforce nuclear safety culture. Taipower Nuclear Operation- Enhance nuclear operation performance In order to keep the nuclear power plants continuously operated at the highest performance level, Taipower promotes several initiatives to enhance the safety and reliability of the safety equipments and to reinforce the nuclear safety culture of the employee. In order to keep the nuclear power plants continuously operated at the highest performance level, Taipower promotes several initiatives to enhance the safety and reliability of the safety equipments and to reinforce the nuclear safety culture of the employee.

11. 10 Enhance the reliability of important to safety equipment Review critical components which cause Rx scram due to single failure and modify its maintenance & replacement program. Renew and digitize important control systems. Procure and improve the function of main and start-up transformer. Fuel failure prevention. Evaluate the possibility to replace steam generator and RPV head of Third NPP. There are several examples, such as: Review critical components which cause Rx scram due to single failure and modify its maintenance & replacement program. Renew and digitize important control systems. Procure and improve the function of main and start-up transformer. Fuel failure prevention. Evaluate the possibility to replace steam generator and RPV head of Third NPP.There are several examples, such as: Review critical components which cause Rx scram due to single failure and modify its maintenance & replacement program. Renew and digitize important control systems. Procure and improve the function of main and start-up transformer. Fuel failure prevention. Evaluate the possibility to replace steam generator and RPV head of Third NPP.

12. 11 Rationalize nuclear regulation and localize the analyzing technique Implement maintenance rule (10CFR50.65). Implement improved tech. spec. (ITS) Establish risk-informed PRA technology to maintenance activity. Build up in-house ability of structure integrity, fatigue and elastic-plastic stress analysis. Build up in-house ability for analyzing reload fuel thermal hydraulic safety. Implement maintenance rule (MR). Implement improved tech. spec. (ITS). Establish risk-informed PRA technology to maintenance activity. Build up in-house ability of structure integrity, fatigue and elastic-plastic stress analysis. Build up in-house ability for analyzing reload fuel thermal hydraulic safety.Implement maintenance rule (MR). Implement improved tech. spec. (ITS). Establish risk-informed PRA technology to maintenance activity. Build up in-house ability of structure integrity, fatigue and elastic-plastic stress analysis. Build up in-house ability for analyzing reload fuel thermal hydraulic safety.

13. 12 Increase revenue and rebuild the core value of nuclear power Power uprating Conduct small range 1.7% power uprating (MUR). Evaluate mid-range (10%) uprate (SPU). Shortening refueling outage duration implement on-line maintenance. Implement risk-informed ISI & IST. Reducing procurement cost of spare parts Participate NUPIC organization. Licensing renewal Conduct NPP 10-year integral safety analysis. Conduct time limited integral performance assessment for individual NPP. Improve precision of nuclear fuel design To increase revenue and rebuild the core value of nuclear power, Taipower prepares to implement the following strategies. Power uprating include small range 1.7% power uprating, and mid-range 10% uprate. Shortening refueling outage duration by implement on-line maintenance and risk-informed ISI & IST. Reducing procurement cost of spare parts by participating NUPIC organization. Licensing renewal will be applied to all three operating plants. And the nuclear fuel design precision will be improved.To increase revenue and rebuild the core value of nuclear power, Taipower prepares to implement the following strategies. Power uprating include small range 1.7% power uprating, and mid-range 10% uprate. Shortening refueling outage duration by implement on-line maintenance and risk-informed ISI & IST. Reducing procurement cost of spare parts by participating NUPIC organization. Licensing renewal will be applied to all three operating plants. And the nuclear fuel design precision will be improved.

14. 13 Reduce the volume of low level radwaste As you can see from the chart, the total volume of low level radiowaste produced from three operating plants is continuously reduced since 1984. Thus three goals have achieved, reducing the impact to the environment, reducing the pressure for storage, and reducing the cost for backend management.As you can see from the chart, the total volume of low level radiowaste produced from three operating plants is continuously reduced since 1984. Thus three goals have achieved, reducing the impact to the environment, reducing the pressure for storage, and reducing the cost for backend management.

15. 14 A stringent dumping control for water from mechanical/floor drain and lube oil from equipment, reducing waste volume and avoiding expanding of contamination. Developing of high-efficiency solidification technology system. For BWR, using less solidification agent to embed more wastes, achieving 2.5 volume-reduction factor as compared with cementation. For PWR, significantly increase the boron concentration in liquid waste up to 120,000ppm, 6 times efficiency compared with cementation. Introduced to Tsuruga NPP of JAPCO in 2003. The key factors to these Low Level Radiowaste volume reduction including following. A strict dumping control for water from mechanical/floor drain and lube oil from equipment can reduce waste volume and avoiding expanding of contamination. We also developed a high-efficiency solidification technology system (HEST) which can reach 2.5 volume-reduction factor compared with cementation for BWR plants. For PWR plants, it can significantly increase the boron concentration in liquid waste up to 120,000ppm, 6 times efficiency compared with cementation. This technology was introduced to Tsuruga NPP of JAPCO in 2003.The key factors to these Low Level Radiowaste volume reduction including following. A strict dumping control for water from mechanical/floor drain and lube oil from equipment can reduce waste volume and avoiding expanding of contamination. We also developed a high-efficiency solidification technology system (HEST) which can reach 2.5 volume-reduction factor compared with cementation for BWR plants. For PWR plants, it can significantly increase the boron concentration in liquid waste up to 120,000ppm, 6 times efficiency compared with cementation. This technology was introduced to Tsuruga NPP of JAPCO in 2003.

16. 15 This diagram shows the process of HEST in Maanshan(Third) NPP.This diagram shows the process of HEST in Maanshan(Third) NPP.

17. 16 Reinforce nuclear safety culture Implement nuclear safety culture strengthen program. Promote and further expand full-loop simulation and physical simulator training facility. Expand nuclear safety culture program to contractors. All contractors have to sign up the agreement to comply with the labor safety regulations. Whoever violates the rules twice will be banished from site. Lesson-learned as the re-training materials for the contractors. An important factor to the successful operation of nuclear power plant is the safety culture. Taipower has continuously promoted a nuclear safety culture strengthen program in the past. This program also applied to our contractors. For example, all contractors have to sign up the agreement to comply with the labor safety regulations. Whoever violates the rules twice will be banished from site. The lesson-learned will be used as training material for the contractors.An important factor to the successful operation of nuclear power plant is the safety culture. Taipower has continuously promoted a nuclear safety culture strengthen program in the past. This program also applied to our contractors. For example, all contractors have to sign up the agreement to comply with the labor safety regulations. Whoever violates the rules twice will be banished from site. The lesson-learned will be used as training material for the contractors.

18. 17 Lungmen project  Begin Construction on July 21 1998. Interrupted on Oct. 27 2000. Resumed on Feb.14 2001. The suspension cause many unexpected challenges and impacts. Unit 1 will be commercial operated in summer of 2009 according to the latest Integrated Project Schedule. Unit 2 will be commercial operated in the following year. The construction of Lungmen(Fourth) Nuclear Power Project started a decade ago; however, it was suspended in October 27, 2000 due to anti-nuclear pressure. Although the construction was resumed in February 2001, its operation schedule has been delayed for 3 years. The prolonged delay due mainly to the uprising construction material price, and scarcity of qualified human resource and venders domestically and internationally. The later factor, of course, can be attributed to then depressive nuclear industry, as also experienced by Finland EPR project . The construction of Lungmen(Fourth) Nuclear Power Project started a decade ago; however, it was suspended in October 27, 2000 due to anti-nuclear pressure. Although the construction was resumed in February 2001, its operation schedule has been delayed for 3 years. The prolonged delay due mainly to the uprising construction material price, and scarcity of qualified human resource and venders domestically and internationally. The later factor, of course, can be attributed to then depressive nuclear industry, as also experienced by Finland EPR project .

19. 18 Lungmen Project Summary This is the project summary. And we schedule to have commercial operation by 2009/7/15 for unit 1 and 2010/7/15 for unit 2.This is the project summary. And we schedule to have commercial operation by 2009/7/15 for unit 1 and 2010/7/15 for unit 2.

20. 19 Bird View of Fourth Nuclear Power Plant This is a bird view of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant .This is a bird view of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant .

21. 20 Actively Implementing Backend Projects Spent fuel: Project for Installation of on-site dry-cask storage facility is underway. Expecting international cooperation for spent fuel handling. Low level radwaste: Seeking for permanent disposal of LLR work in progress for >15 yr. Government promulgated �Criteria for selection and construction of low level radwaste disposal site� in May 2006. As for the nuclear back-end management, Taipower has been facing great difficulties in finding a final storage site for low-level nuclear waste. Local people still oppose burying waste in their own county even though Taipower has drafted a handsome subsidiary plan and demonstrated that the storage facility will be very well constructed and strictly monitored. As for the nuclear back-end management, Taipower has been facing great difficulties in finding a final storage site for low-level nuclear waste. Local people still oppose burying waste in their own county even though Taipower has drafted a handsome subsidiary plan and demonstrated that the storage facility will be very well constructed and strictly monitored.

22. 21 The necessity of nuclear energy in Taiwan International energy trend � low carbon era and high raw material price In order to maintain economic growth rate Reduce the dependence of imported fuel Meet the environmental commitment Nuclear energy is an important resource to meet demand without emission CO2 Taiwan needs to develop nuclear energy This shows the major reasons identified by Taipower for keeping its nuclear power plants.This shows the major reasons identified by Taipower for keeping its nuclear power plants.

23. 22 Concluding Remarks:Reflection International cooperation helps upgrade performance. Continuously promote core technical capability. Continuously achieve volume reduction of LLR. Upturn LM project. Finally, my union fellows are aware of the merit of nuclear power and support the development of NPP. The long time communication also bear fruit, more and more people in Taiwan accept NPP as an indispensable energy solution. We know, only a long-term proof of safety and reliability of NPP can gain people�s confidence trust and support. My Union and the Taipower are continuously devoted themselves to promote the core technical capability as well as to achieve the volume reduction of Low Level Radiowaste. We believe that international cooperation can help us upgrade the performance of our nuclear power plants. We hope there will be a close cooperation with you all in the near future. Thank you. Finally, my union fellows are aware of the merit of nuclear power and support the development of NPP. The long time communication also bear fruit, more and more people in Taiwan accept NPP as an indispensable energy solution. We know, only a long-term proof of safety and reliability of NPP can gain people�s confidence trust and support. My Union and the Taipower are continuously devoted themselves to promote the core technical capability as well as to achieve the volume reduction of Low Level Radiowaste. We believe that international cooperation can help us upgrade the performance of our nuclear power plants. We hope there will be a close cooperation with you all in the near future. Thank you.

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