Current status and challenges of spent nuclear fuel final disposal development in Taiwan

• Even under the Nuclear-Free Homeland policy, Taiwan still needs to develop disposal technology and site selection. • Positive developments have been achieved in terms of technical feasibility and safety case for SNF disposal in Taiwan. • Combining the performance and safety perspectives of disposal facilities can provide references for site selection. • Facing many challenges, centralized long-term storage may be initiated as an alternative contingency plan. Since the introduction of nuclear power in Taiwan in 1978, over 40 years have elapsed. Under the “nuclear-free homeland” policy, the nuclear power plants have been progressively decommissioned. The generated spent nuclear fuel (SNF) should be managed through direct disposal, with deep geological repository and the concept of multiple barriers. Up to date, the implementation of the disposal plan has yielded positive results in terms of technical feasibility and safety assessment. Although the plan has progressed to its second phase, which involves the selection and determination of candidate sites, numerous challenges remain in the process. This paper also addresses related issues and proposes potential alternatives for centralized long-term storage as a contingency plan.