Saying the nation faces a shortage of electricity supplies this summer, Premier Lin Chuan (林全) yesterday told reporters he is considering ordering the reactivation of the No. 1 reactor at the Jinshan Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City’s Shimen District (石門).
“We still want the Jinshan Nuclear Power plant to be decommissioned as scheduled and extending its operations is out of question, but since we still need some time to adjust power supplies, we would consider resuming operations under the precondition that it is safe to do so,” Lin said in response to media queries.
The issue of whether to reactivate the nation’s oldest nuclear reactor — which was shut down for repairs 17 months ago and is scheduled to be decommissioned in 2018 — has sparked heated debate, following record-breaking temperatures in Taipei of up to 38.7°C last week.
Lin said that the government aims to decommission the three active nuclear power plants in 2025 as planned.
Cabinet spokesman Tung Chen-yuan (童振源) later reiterated that the reactor would be reactivated only if it is proved to be safe.
However, Lin’s remarks drew criticism.
“The Jinshan Nuclear Power Plant is one of the most dangerous nuclear power plants in the world and it is impossible that it would meet the precondition of being ‘safe,’ so we are opposed to resuming operations,” New Power Party Executive Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) said. “There are other ways to deal with rising demand for electricity. The government should not gamble with people’s lives and future of Taiwan because of this simple reason, the vast majority of the public would not accept it.”
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) spokeswoman Wang Hung-wei (王鴻薇) urged President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) administration to explain its stance on nuclear energy.
Wang said that in the past the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) nuclear energy policy revolved around its goal of building a nuclear-free nation, and it was always opposed to calls for the reactor to be used again.
“Now the DPP has obtained full control of the nation, it should be held fully responsible for its policies. Tsai’s administration should face the matter with a more candid attitude and tell the public what its stance on nuclear energy really is,” Wang said.
DPP legislators had mixed reactions to Lin’s remarks.
DPP Legislator Wu Ping-jui (吳秉叡) rebutted the KMT’s accusation that the DPP government is “taking another U-turn,” saying that among the party’s energy policies are the abolishment of nuclear power by 2025 and not extending the operations of the Jinshan plant and the Kuosheng Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City’s Wanli District (萬里).
“The Jinshan Nuclear Power Plant is set to be decommissioned in 2018, we are not postponing it — so in what way are we making a U-turn?” Wu asked.
However, DPP Legislator Chang Hung-lu (張宏陸), who represents New Taipei City’s Banciao District (板橋), said that he is opposed to resuming the operations of the plant while it is still unsafe.
“The DPP pledged to end nuclear energy by 2025.” Chang said. “Many people would be greatly disappointed if the operations at the nuclear power plant are resumed, we should not forget what people expect of the new government.”
DPP Legislator Chuang Jui-hsiung (莊瑞雄) said that he understands the government might want to resume operations as a temporary measure in response to the rising demand for electricity, “but it is surely a slap in the face for the DPP.”
Additional reporting by Stacy Hsu and CNA
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