Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential contender Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) released her first major policy initiative yesterday, saying she intended to phase out operations of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant.
Tsai’s policy would reverse the government’s long-term plan of relying more on nuclear energy to meet its target reductions in greenhouse emissions. It reflects heightened concerns about the industry among DPP politicians amid the ongoing nuclear crisis in Japan.
The NT$273.5 billion (US$9.2 billion) project on the outskirts of New Taipei City has already been beset by delays and cost overruns, some of them arising from the one-year moratorium on construction imposed by former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) in 2000.
Tsai said the nuclear power plant posed unacceptable risks in light of the near nuclear meltdown in Japan, which has released harmful radioactive material into the air.
A similar situation in Taiwan would have “disastrous consequences,” she said.
“The [nuclear] disaster in Japan revealed the very serious safety problems associated with nuclear energy. In light of this, the government should re-examine, reassess and reconsider” the nuclear industry, she said.
Under the plan, Taiwan would aim to phase out nuclear energy by 2025, if not sooner, pending the development of other energy sources. On top of stopping operations of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant, existing nuclear plants one, two and three would be decommissioned on schedule, between 2019 and 2025.
Statistics from the Bureau of Energy show that Taiwan’s three operational nuclear power plants last year generated about 19.3 percent of the nation’s energy.
Tsai said this number could be offset by generating more renewable energy, increasing efficiency of current coal-fired plants and building new natural gas plants. Together, those measures could increase power capacity by about 10 percent, she said.
With Taiwan’s reserve power margins standing at 23.4 percent last year, well above the 15 percent she said was necessary to avoid blackouts, the developments could “steer Taiwan to a nuclear-free society without making compromises,” Tsai said.
Choosing to tackle nuclear energy as part of her first policy announcement is a risky move for Tsai, who has spoken out against the industry in the past. An election promise by Chen to nix the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant backfired when later polls showed a majority were opposed to the plan.
Chen was forced to restart construction in 2001 because of public pressure.
Tsai stopped short of promising to immediately call a halt to the operations of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant, with its two reactors expected to come online between next year and 2013, but said that “this is what I am aiming toward.” She also said she believed a nationwide referendum on the issue was not necessary.
DPP caucus leaders, who hold 33 of 113 legislative seats, have already expressed support for a similar proposal.
Earlier yesterday, DPP lawmakers suggested that phasing out the NT$273.5 billion project was necessary in the interests of long-term public safety. The lawmakers said they would back plans to increase subsidies to develop renewable energy, calling northern European countries examples Taiwan should follow.
“We would rather have our [government] spend some more money instead of one day suffering the same disaster Japan did,” DPP Legislator Gao Jyh-peng (高志鵬) said.
RETHINK? The defense ministry and Navy Command Headquarters could take over the indigenous submarine project and change its production timeline, a source said Admiral Huang Shu-kuang’s (黃曙光) resignation as head of the Indigenous Submarine Program and as a member of the National Security Council could affect the production of submarines, a source said yesterday. Huang in a statement last night said he had decided to resign due to national security concerns while expressing the hope that it would put a stop to political wrangling that only undermines the advancement of the nation’s defense capabilities. Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Vivian Huang (黃珊珊) yesterday said that the admiral, her older brother, felt it was time for him to step down and that he had completed what he
Taiwan has experienced its most significant improvement in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, data provided on Sunday by international higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) showed. Compared with last year’s edition of the rankings, which measure academic excellence and influence, Taiwanese universities made great improvements in the H Index metric, which evaluates research productivity and its impact, with a notable 30 percent increase overall, QS said. Taiwanese universities also made notable progress in the Citations per Paper metric, which measures the impact of research, achieving a 13 percent increase. Taiwanese universities gained 10 percent in Academic Reputation, but declined 18 percent
BULLY TACTICS: Beijing has continued its incursions into Taiwan’s airspace even as Xi Jinping talked about Taiwan being part of the Chinese family and nation China should stop its coercion of Taiwan and respect mainstream public opinion in Taiwan about sovereignty if its expression of goodwill is genuine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said yesterday. Ministry spokesman Jeff Liu (劉永健) made the comment in response to media queries about a meeting between former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) the previous day. Ma voiced support for the so-called “1992 consensus,” while Xi said that although the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have “different systems,” this does not change the fact that they are “part of the same country,” and that “external
UNDER DISCUSSION: The combatant command would integrate fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups to defend waters closest to the coastline, a source said The military could establish a new combatant command as early as 2026, which would be tasked with defending Taiwan’s territorial waters 24 nautical miles (44.4km) from the nation’s coastline, a source familiar with the matter said yesterday. The new command, which would fall under the Naval Command Headquarters, would be led by a vice admiral and integrate existing fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups, along with the Naval Maritime Surveillance and Reconnaissance Command, said the source, who asked to remain anonymous. It could be launched by 2026, but details are being discussed and no final timetable has been announced, the source