Costs of nuclear power remains a divisive issue

Construction of the plant has cost taxpayers an estimated NT$300 billion so far.

At the hearing, supporters of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant argued for its construction to continue, citing environmental concerns over a shift to fossil fuels and possible rises in electricity rates.

Chen Li-cheng (陳立誠), president of Gibson Engineers, a Taipei-based Taiwan-US engineering company, drew attention to the possible costs of not being able to meet power demands, expected to peak in 2016, as a result of halting construction of the power plant.

Chen said the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant, scheduled to become operational in July 2016, is being built to offset a possible shortfall in electricity supply that year.