Nuclear Safety Commission: NAC Products for Third Nuclear Plant Dry Storage Approved by US NRC

Central News Agency reporter Xie Yixuan (Taipei, 25th) Legislators expressed concern that the bidder Hetai questioned defects such as the boric acid concentration of NAC, the winning bidder for the Third Nuclear Power Plant's indoor dry storage project. Chen Wen-chuan, head of the Nuclear Materials Control Division of the Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC), stated that NAC's products have been approved by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and there are safety review standards for dry storage. Taipower has incorporated safety guidelines into its specifications during the tender. The Legislative Yuan's Education and Culture Committee reviewed the 115th-year central government budget for the Nuclear Safety Commission and its affiliated units today. KMT legislators Ko Chih-en and Ge Ru-jun were concerned about the recent controversy over the procurement of indoor dry storage at the Third Nuclear Power Plant. Chen Wen-chuan stated that NAC is a US company, and it also won the bid for the outdoor dry storage at the Second Nuclear Power Plant; the company's products have been approved by the US NRC. Regarding the review standards, Chen said that dry storage has safety review standards, and Taipower has incorporated safety guidelines into its specifications during the tender. The guidelines require the use of products that are already mature internationally. The NSC holds communication and control meetings with Taipower every month, and Taipower's tenders comply with regulations. The bidder Hetai questioned that the winning bidder NAC had defects such as boric acid concentration not meeting standards, suspecting that Taipower lowered the threshold to cooperate with the restart of the Third Nuclear Power Plant. It previously commissioned lawyers to petition the Ministry of Economic Affairs, calling for a thorough investigation. Taipower previously responded that the tender and review were conducted in accordance with the law, and it strongly protested against the accusations of ignoring nuclear safety, considering legal action against false accusations. Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-hsin previously stated that he respects and supports Taipower's explanation or potential future legal actions.