The Atomic Energy Council is working to establish a radiation forecasting system to provide briefings with the same format as a daily weather report. That was the word from council minister Hsieh Shou-shin at a press conference on Thursday.
Hsieh is leading government plans to measure and counteract risks posed by the release of contaminated water from Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant. The plant suffered a triple meltdown in 2011 after a severe earthquake and tsunami. Japan is planning to release over one million tons of waste water from the plant in two years’ time.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has endorsed the plans, saying that it’s common practise. But environmental groups like Greenpeace say that the contaminated water poses risks to the environment and people’s health.
Taiwan’s Atomic Energy Council plans to spend NT$128 million (US$4.6 million) over the next year and a half on upgrading systems for monitoring radiation levels in Taiwan’s seas. The council then hopes to have a radiation forecasting system up and running in two and a half years’ time at the very earliest.
Minister Hsieh says that the council has already called five cross-departmental meetings on the issue, with the next planned for April 29.