THE GLOBALIZATION MARKET AND GENERAL ELECTRIC

With no prospect for new domestic reactor orders in the United States, General Electric began marketing its Advanced Boiling Water Reactor (ABWR) standardized design overseas before it was approved and certified for licensing by the U.S. NRC in May1997. To date, only the two Pacific Rim countries of Japan and Taiwan have contracted for GE’s new standardized design.

Japan

The consortium of GE, Hitachi and Toshiba completed construction of two ABWR units whose design is similar to that certified by NRC. Commercially operated by Tokyo Electric Power Corporation in the western Prefecture of Niigata, the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Unit 6 began generating electricity in November, 1996 and Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Unit 7 began commercial operation in July, 1997.

Toshiba and Hitachi plans to build their own ABWRs have recently been delivered serious setbacks, including the cancellation of the Ashihama 1 & 2 project as the result of growing public opposition and finally a precedent setting withdrawal of support and cooperation by the Mayor of the Mie prefecture. Similarly, Japanese industry plans to announce the construction of at least six additional ABWR designs have been delayed since 1998.

In the wake of the Tokaimura uranium processing facility accident in September, 1999, The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MITI), Japan’s nuclear power regulator and promoter, announced in March, 2000 a review of Japan’s nuclear energy policy in an overhaul likely to result in more reactor cutbacks.

Taiwan

Taiwan first sought construction of its fourth nuclear power station as early as 1980 near the northern village Gong-Liau. Heavy opposition from local residents and anti-nuclear activists stalled the commencement of construction until 1996, when the government-owned Taiwan Power Company awarded a contract to GE Nuclear Energy to build the Lungmen ABWR (two 1315 megawatt units), identical to the Japanese units at Niigata. Scheduled to start commercial operation in 2004 and 2005, respectively, completion of the project still faces ferocious citizen opposition bent on preventing commercial operation of the reactors. –Paul Gunter