Taiwan Power Company has shut down one of the two reactors at the third nuclear power plant after a fire broke out late on Sunday night. But the company said on Monday that there is no danger of radioactive contamination.
There are two reactors at the third nuclear power plant. Taiwan Power Company spokesperson Lin Te-fu said that a short circuit in the auxiliary transformer outside reactor number two caused the fire. He said the fire caused the water cooling pump to stop working and reactor number two was automatically shut down as a safety precaution.
Lin said the fire was extinguished within 17 minutes. The spokesman said there are still two other transformers and three emergency diesel generators. That means the water cooling pump at reactor number one can still receive a steady supply of power.
Lin said that it could take about two weeks to repair reactor number two, but that it should not affect Taiwan’s total power supply.
“Many people are concerned about whether there will be a shortage in the power supply," said Lin. "And of course, the shutdown of reactor number two has affected the volume of power we are generating. But we still have an operating reserve rate of nearly six percent. So the regular power supply should not be affected.”
An operating reserve rate of over ten percent indicates an ample supply of electricity, while a reserve rate of under six percent signals possible power shortages.