TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Ministry of National Defense on Tuesday denied media reports about problems with the power supply on the Narwhal, Taiwan's first indigenous submarine.

The reports alleged that the harbor acceptance tests were running behind schedule and would not be completed in April, as previously planned. It said these problems would also delay the sea acceptance tests, per Radio Taiwan International.

Military Spokesperson Sun Li-fang (孫立方) rejected the claims, saying the tests for the Narwhal would follow the original timetable. He said reports about unstable electric pressure on the submarine were untrue.

Sun said the batteries were installed without glitches, while the replacement of parts was a normal practice during the testing period. The Navy had assured him that the project would move to the next phase of tests in April, he added.

The government had approved plans for seven additional submarines modeled after the Narwhal, to be built by CSBC Corporation in Kaohsiung. However, the opposition used its majority in the Legislative Yuan in January to freeze half of the NT$2 billion (US$61 million) budget until the sea tests finish.