Holtec to provide sheltered spent fuel storage in Taiwan

Chinshan (1978–2018) and Kuosheng (1981–2023) were both two-unit boiling water reactors located in New Taipei City. The plants were retired as part of Taiwan’s nuclear phase-out policy, though plans for the potential restart of Kuosheng are being evaluated.

“This fleetwide BWR used fuel storage contract is possibly the largest in monetary value placed to date in the used fuel management sector of the nuclear industry,” Holtec said. The exact value of the contract was not disclosed.

The scope: Under the contract, Holtec will supply more than 150 multipurpose canister-based dry storage systems and associated equipment to TPC. In addition, Holtec said it will design and construct structurally hardened dry storage facilities at each of the two sites and provide commissioning services.

According to Holtec, the passively safe storage facilities will be licensed by Taiwan’s environmental and nuclear regulators, building on the existing U.S. certificate of compliance for the system.

Holtec will work with Taiwanese engineering and construction firms on the project, and the company is to establish Holtec Taiwan in the country to serve as its regional operations center. According to the company, Holtec Taiwan will be on par with its other centers, such as Holtec Europe, Holtec do Brazil, Holtec Britain, Holtec Mexico, and Holtec Ukraine.

Quote: “We celebrate the return of TPC’s four BWRs as valued clients after more than three decades of hiatus since our services to their BWR fleet began,” said Rick Springman, Holtec’s president of global opportunities. “TPC played a formative role in the development of several of Holtec’s early storage solutions, and this renewed collaboration will generate substantial direct and derivative value for both organizations.”