Lanyu storage site

Coordinates: 22°00′17″N 121°35′40″E / 22.00472°N 121.59444°E / 22.00472; 121.59444

Location of Lanyu storage site

The Lanyu storage site[1] (Chinese: 蘭嶼貯存場; pinyin: Lányǔ Zhùcún Chǎng) is a facility to store all of the nuclear waste produced by three nuclear power plants in the Republic of China. It is owned and operated by Taipower.[2][3]

Location

The facility was built at the South Eastern tip of Lanyu Island,[4] Taitung County in 1982. Tao Aborigines living on the island have protested the facility.[5][6] The decision to choose Lanyu Island as the storage site was made in 1974. It faces the Pacific Ocean in one direction, and the other three directions face hills behind it, thus separating the facility from the residence by natural barriers.

Functions

The facility receives low-level radioactive solid waste from nuclear power plants, medical, agriculture, industrial, education and research sectors about 45,000 barrels annually, which is being shipped by boat from Taiwan Island every week.[4][7]

Safety

Taipower claims that several safety measures are taken to ensure the safety of the facility. Wastes are tested and examined before being stored at the facility, transportation and storage are done under strict control, thorough investigation and examination are done to the environment surrounding the facility, and changes in the radioactivity level are strictly monitored.[4]

See also

References

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