All nuclear power plants in the EU underwent stress tests and peer reviews in 2011 and 2012. Many other countries and territories also conducted comprehensive nuclear risk and safety assessments, based on the EU stress-test model. These include Switzerland and Ukraine (both of which fully participated in the EU stress tests), Armenia, Turkey, Russia, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, South Africa and Brazil.
The European Commission started discussions with some of these countries, e.g. Armenia and Turkey, regarding possible peer review of their stress tests.
Taiwanese nuclear stress tests
Taiwan has been generating power from nuclear plants since 1977. There are currently three plants in operation and one under construction. All have undergone national stress tests.
In late 2012, Taiwan invited the European Commission to set up a Peer Review of these stress tests. Based upon this request, the Commission organised a review team by selecting volunteering experts from its ENSREG group as well as from its own services.
In November 2013, the EU peer review of the stress tests concluded that the safety standards applied in Taiwanese nuclear power plants are generally high and comply with international state-of-the-art practices. Neither the Taiwanese nuclear operator nor the regulator found any safety shortcomings which would require the immediate shutdown of any power plants.
However, the EU peer review strongly recommended further improvements in view of Taiwan's vulnerability to natural hazards such as earthquakes, flooding, tsunamis and volcanos.
The peer review called for action to make the power plants more robust against the effects of large earthquakes and flooding, e.g. by building higher tsunami protection walls. Also, more up-to-date methods and data should be used to evaluate seismic and flooding risks.
Further information on the Taiwan stress tests and the EU peer review can be found here.
