TAIWAN RESPONSE TO ADVANCED REACTOR RESEARCH

C O N F I D E N T I A L AIT TAIPEI 001230

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

STATE ALSO FOR EAP/TC, ISN/FO RSTRATFORD AND ISN/NESS
ABURKART, DOE FOR EMCGINNIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/15/2019
TAGS: SENV ECON PARM ENERG KNNP TRGY FR TW
SUBJECT: TAIWAN RESPONSE TO ADVANCED REACTOR RESEARCH
INQUIRY

REF: A. STATE 103610

B. TAIPEI 1077

C. TAIPEI 487

Classified By: Deputy Director Eric Madison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.


1. (U) This message is a response to Ref A action request.


2. (C) SUMMARY: Taiwan has no official programs in the field
of advanced nuclear reactor research, and nuclear officials
here are cool to the prospects of Generation IV reactor
technology to play any role in Taiwan's nuclear industry for
at least the next twenty years. However, National Tsing-Hua
University has been carrying out Generation IV research
programs on the Molten Salt Reactor and Very High Temperature
Reactor for approximately one year now through a budget
funded by the National Science Council. Nuclear officials
believe the true value of the Tsing-Hua program is to provide
training for the island's next generation of nuclear
engineers. These same officials were pleased with the
results of Taiwan's 2009 National Energy Conference, which
they feel ensured nuclear power would continue to play an
important role in meeting Taiwan's energy needs. END SUMMARY.


3. (C) ESTH officers met with Atomic Energy Council Planning
Director David Yao and International Affairs Section Chief
Jec-Kong Gone to discuss Ref A points on Taiwan's interest in
advanced nuclear reactor research and the nuclear research
aspects of Taiwan's April 2009 National Energy Conference.
On the first point, Yao noted the Taiwan authorities have
issued "no policy guidance or strategic goals" on the
establishment of advanced nuclear power technology in Taiwan,
and all of the island's research on advanced (i.e.,
Generation IV) reactors is thus being carried out by National
Tsing-Hua University. Current research activities at
Tsing-Hua include projects related to the Molten Salt Reactor
(MSR) and Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR). Tsing-Hua's
MSR research was initiated by the university's former
president Frank Shu and is only in its first year, according
to Yao, with an annual budget of roughly USD 650,000 from the
National Science Council. A new budget request to continue
funding for 2010 has been submitted. Yao doubted any of the
Generation IV research would yield practicable results for
Taiwan, but said the value of such research is to provide
training for Taiwan's next generation of nuclear engineers.



4. (C) Yao did not suggest U.S.-Taiwan cooperation on
Generation IV research, and predicted Taiwan would continue
using Generation III or III-Plus reactor technology for at
least the next twenty years. He stated the Institute of
Nuclear Energy Research (INER) has no research projects
related to Generation IV technology underway or planned
either solely or in cooperation with any other entities.
Instead, INER's major research projects for 2009-1012
include: development and application of nuclear facility
decommissioning and radwaste management technologies,
research into environmental plasma technologies, radioactive
pharmaceutical science development, establishment of a
high-concentration photovoltaic R&D center, development of
advanced nuclear safety regulatory technology, platform
set-up for nuclear technology industrialization, and other
projects related to alternative energy, carbon capture, and
radiopharmaceuticals. Both Yao and Gone said they would
prepare a presentation outlining in more detail Taiwan's
position on Generation IV research, specifically with regards
to MSR and VHTR, and would welcome the opportunity to further
discuss this issue with U.S. counterparts during the October
26-27 Joint Standing Committee Meeting on Civil Nuclear
Cooperation in Kaohsiung.


5. (C) On the second point, related to the April 2009
National Energy Conference, Yao said AEC was pleased with the
results. Although objections to nuclear power from civil
society groups allowed for only four relatively anodyne
points of consensus on nuclear issues to emerge from the
conference, former Premier Liu Chao-Shiuan stated nuclear
power had a certain future in Taiwan, as it would help reduce

greenhouse gas emissions and create a "low-carbon society."
Subsequently, the Executive Yuan in July approved an "Action
Plan for the Conclusions of the 2009 National Energy
Conference," which included a program to assess "reasonable
uses" of nuclear power in Taiwan and also the four consensus
points reached at the conference, including directives to
ensure plant safety, improve public oversight, identify
nuclear issues of public concern, and strengthen the training
of nuclear professionals. Yao added he expected no changes
to Taiwan's nuclear policy or direction under new Premier Wu
Den-yih.


6. (C) Separately, ESTH officer raised the issue noted in
Ref B, regarding France's request for U.S. assistance to
resolve the stalled tender for French industrial conglomerate
AREVA to reprocess 292 tons of spent nuclear fuel currently
located in Taiwan's Chinshan Nuclear Power Plant. Director
Yao stated he understood the U.S. position clearly, that it
was not in the scope of U.S. responsibilities to provide
assistance in this case. Yao noted he has already shared the
U.S. position with AREVA, but not with anyone from the French
Institute in Taipei (FIT),and he believed AREVA understood
clearly why its bid was not approved by the Taiwan
authorities. Yao added he was unaware of the disconnect
between AREVA and FIT, and would gladly give FIT
representatives the same explanation he gave to AREVA, should
the opportunity arise.
STANTON