Taiwan lawmakers clash over nuclear power referendum

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Ruling and opposition lawmakers clashed during a televised presentation Thursday over a Nov. 28 referendum on nuclear power, disagreeing over its economic benefits, electricity costs, energy security and nuclear safety.

Taipei, Nov. 12 (CNA) Ruling and opposition lawmakers clashed during a televised presentation Thursday over a Nov. 28 referendum on nuclear power, disagreeing over its economic benefits, electricity costs, energy security and nuclear safety.

The referendum, to be held alongside the Nov. 28 nine-in-one elections, was approved by the Legislature on Aug. 14 in a 59-51 vote on a motion proposed by the main opposition Kuomintang's (KMT) legislative caucus.

KMT Legislator Niu Hsu-ting (牛煦庭), speaking in favor of the proposal, said nuclear power and renewable energy should be developed in parallel, with nuclear power providing a stable supply of baseload electricity to meet the needs of energy-intensive industries such as semiconductor manufacturing and artificial intelligence (AI).

Niu said Taiwan's reliance on imported fossil fuels made its electricity costs vulnerable to fluctuations in international fuel prices, contributing to losses at state-run Taiwan Power Co. (Taipower) and higher electricity costs for businesses.

He argued that nuclear power could help stabilize electricity prices and reduce the environmental and security risks associated with fossil-fuel generation.

Taiwan's dependence on imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) was particularly concerning, he said, because a maritime blockade could disrupt supplies.

Niu also questioned the environmental impact of renewable energy projects, citing concerns over solar installations on agricultural land and water reservoirs.

He argued that nuclear fuel could be stockpiled more easily than imported gas, making nuclear power a more reliable option in a crisis.

"Nuclear power and renewable energy should be developed in parallel," Niu said, calling on voters to vote "Yes" in the referendum.

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