nuclear-news

Taiwan’s opposition Democratic Progressive Party launching anti nuclear campaign

DPP to launch ‘rational’ anti-nuclear campaign Focus Taiwan, By Lee Shu-hua and Ann Chen, Taipei, March 3 (CNA) The opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said Sunday that it will launch a “rational” anti-nuclear campaign after the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) accepted the idea of holding a referendum on the controversial Fourth Nuclear Power Plant project.

DPP spokesman Lin Chun-hsien said the party will present facts and statistics to show the public why it is not suitable for Taiwan to continue carry out construction of the plant, which is almost complete.

Lin also disputed recent remarks from Taiwan Power Co. (Taipower), which operates the country’s nuclear power facility, that electricity bills will increase and the nation will be short of power if construction of the No. 4 plant is halted.

He argued that the message is a “threat” to the public and that Premier Jiang Yi-hua should listen to the opinions of both pro- and anti-nuclear …… Taiwan has three nuclear power plants, two in the north and one in the south. The oldest is slated for decommissioning by 2019, followed by the second plant by 2023, and another to be wound up by 2025.

Construction of the fourth plant began in 1999 in New Taipei on the northeast coast. But various shutdowns due to engineering problems and policy changes have delayed its completion. 

March 4, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, Taiwan