New taipei: Taiwan's Nuclear Safety Commission is set to conduct a nuclear safety drill at the decommissioned Kuosheng (No. 2) Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei from September 8 to 10, marking the first inclusion of drone countering exercises in such drills. The live-action drill is the 32nd of its kind and follows tabletop disaster response drills conducted on July 30.
According to Focus Taiwan, the exercises on September 8 will focus on testing emergency response capabilities for unit repairs and the restoration of power and water supplies following a hypothetical disaster at the plant. Lin Chen-hsuan, director of the commission's Nuclear Safety and Emergency Response Office, highlighted that while previous drills have simulated drone attacks, this will be the first to feature a "drone pursuit" exercise involving jamming and other countermeasures.
Lin Ying-chi, deputy head of Taiwan Power Co.'s Nuclear Power Department, noted that security personnel at the plant are equipped with drone jamming devices. During the drill, these security police will practice tracking and locking onto drones, followed by exercises in jamming and interception. The drill will also simulate a scenario where a drone attack causes a large-scale fire at a 650-kiloliter fuel storage tank, which is crucial for supplying emergency diesel generators.
On September 9 and 10, public protection drills are planned in the neighboring areas of Keelung and New Taipei City. These activities will include sending alert notifications, evacuating travelers, delivering supplies to isolated areas, preventive evacuations for vulnerable groups, setting up protective stations, and providing medical treatment for radiation injuries. The exercises will also encompass land, sea, and air radiation monitoring, involving collaboration with local city governments, military, the commission's Radiation Monitoring Center, Taipower, and power plant staff.
The No. 2 Power Plant, located in New Taipei's Wanli District, ceased operations and began decommissioning in March 2023. Despite Taiwan's last active nuclear reactor being shut down in May 2025, the government has initiated steps to potentially restart the No. 2 and No. 3 plants due to increasing electricity demand and reliance on imported energy.