Lai Calls for ‘No’ Vote in Upcoming Nuclear Energy Referendum

President William Lai urged Taiwanese citizens to vote ‘no’ in the nuclear energy referendum scheduled for March 30, 2024. Speaking at the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) Central Standing Committee meeting in Taipei, Lai criticized the timing of the plebiscite, asserting that it undermines the public’s right to make informed decisions regarding nuclear energy.

Concerns Over Safety Evaluations

Lai emphasized that the referendum should not take place before the government has conducted comprehensive safety evaluations. He argued that the public lacks the necessary information to assess the implications of reactivating the decommissioned Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant, located in Pingtung County.

“I will go to the ballot box on Saturday next week to cast a ‘no’ vote, as we all should do,” Lai declared, urging the public to reject the proposition to restart the nuclear facility. His administration maintains a clear stance: nuclear energy can only be considered if specific safety and procedural criteria are met.

Strict Criteria for Nuclear Energy Use

According to Lai, there are three essential practical requirements for the use of nuclear energy: ensuring the safety of nuclear power, securing a nuclear waste disposal site, and achieving public consensus on the issue. Additionally, he outlined two procedural requirements that must be fulfilled by the Nuclear Safety Commission and Taiwan Power Co (Taipower) before any decision can be made on reactivating nuclear energy.

The Nuclear Safety Commission is currently in the process of developing a certification protocol for decommissioned reactors. Lai noted that this proposal is still in the public comment stage, set to last until the end of next month. Furthermore, he highlighted that Taipower must independently certify the safety of the reactors and assess the necessity and capacity for nuclear power.

Chairman of Taipower, Tseng Wen-sheng, previously stated that evaluations would commence once the commission finalizes its regulations. Lai reiterated that since neither the commission nor Taipower has initiated safety assessments, the public remains uninformed about the nuclear energy debate.

As the referendum approaches, Lai’s call to action reflects a broader concern about the implications of nuclear energy in Taiwan and the importance of informed public participation in such critical issues.