TAIPEI, Taiwan, May 8, 2002 (ENS) - Taiwan is discussing dumping low-level nuclear waste in the politically troubled Solomon Islands, according to Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA).

Taiwan Economic Affairs Minister Lin Yi-fu said Saturday that his ministry is considering several possible sites at home and abroad, including the Solomon Islands, for the relocation of Taiwan's nuclear waste from Orchid Island, also known as Lanyu.

Lin's comments come as Solomon Islands new Prime Minister Sir Allan Kemakeza headed home from a state visit to Taiwan. Kemakeza was sworn in last month along with a cabinet of first time ministers following an ethnic militia coup in 2000 that left over 100 people dead.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Sir Allan Kemakeza (Photo courtesy Solomon Islands People First Network)

Taiwan Economic Affairs Minister Lin said that sites in Russia, Mainland China, North Korea and the Solomon Islands are among the options under discussion for the Orchid Island waste, CNA reported.

He commented on the relocation of the Orchid Island waste in Taipei after a trip to Orchid Island, where he discussed with the Tawu tribespeople who live there the removal of Taiwan Power Company's nuclear waste.

Taipower has been storing 97,000 barrels of low-level nuclear waste on Orchid Island since 1982. It has promised to relocate the waste by the end of 2002.

Negotiations with Russia, Mainland China, North Korea and the Solomon Islands are under way, with no set timetable, he said.

The waste is now stored on Orchid Island, or Lanyu, which lies east of the southern tip of Taiwan (Photo by Sung Chih-hsiung courtesy Travel in Taiwan Taiwan Tourism Bureau)

Taipower Chairman W.Y. Lin told CNA that even if the environmental agency can release the assessment by the end of this year, it may take at least 10 years to complete construction of the necessary facilities on Wuchiu.

The final decision will be made by a committee, which must conduct detailed discussions first.

New Zealand and Australian Foreign Ministers Phil Goff and Alexander Downer are today on their way to the Solomon Islands to determine whether the two governments will continue to give aid to the troubled island nation.