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Taiwan Ruling Party Concedes on Halting Nuclear Power Plant
Source: Bloomberg
Taiwan’s ruling Kuomintang party agreed with the opposition on suspending construction for a nuclear power plant that attracted tens of thousands in a demonstration last weekend.
Premier Jiang Yi-huah said the government won’t be seeking additional funding to complete the project, located 40 kilometers (25 miles) east of Taipei, as a gesture of goodwill to the opposition Democratic Progressive Party, during a press briefing carried on cable television networks.
Pressure was mounting on President Ma Ying-jeou’s administration to halt the NT$283.8 billion ($9.4 billion) project, after about 28,500 people rallied against it in front of the president’s office yesterday, according to police. Opposition DPP Chairman Su Tseng-chang last week called for a suspension of the project in a televised meeting with Ma. A former chairman of Su’s party has been on a hunger strike since April 22.
“We’re putting the No. 4 nuclear power plant on hold in the spirit of leaving the next generation an option,” President Ma said on a post on his Facebook page yesterday, after a meeting with cabinet members including the premier, ministers of economy and atomic energy, as well as Taipei and Taichung city mayors. “When we need it in the future, it can offer an additional choice.”
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Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-04-28/taiwan-ruling-party-concedes-on-putting-nuclear-plant-on-hold.html
5 replies
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http://thediplomat.com/2014/04/taiwan-rocked-by-anti-nuclear-protests/
Taiwan Rocked by Anti-Nuclear Protests
Anti-nuclear protesters have taken to the streets of Taipei to demand the end of atomic energy on the island.
By J. Michael Cole
April 28, 2014
Less than a month after the unprecedented occupation of the Legislative Yuan by the Sunflower Movement, riot police and water cannons were once again deployed on the streets of Taipei. But this time, the object of the protests wasn’t a controversial services trade pact with China, but rather nuclear energy, a major point of contention since the 2011 nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi power plant in Japan.
At the center of the storm is the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant currently under construction in Gongliao, New Taipei City. Though ostensibly a much safer design than earlier generations of reactors, fears remain that the Advanced Boiling Water Reactor (ABWR) at the Fourth power plant is an unstable assemblage of various systems — a nuclear Frankenstein monster, if you will. Moreover, opponents of the project argue that Taiwan, a highly active seismic area, is too vulnerable to natural catastrophes, including tsunamis and powerful typhoons. Also, they argue that the small size of the island and proximity of nuclear power plants to high-density urban centers raise questions about the ability of the government to evacuate the population in case of a nuclear emergency.
According to the Central Weather Bureau, which also monitors seismic activity, Taiwan experiences an average of 2,200 earthquakes annually, of which more than 200 are actually felt. Based on statistics, the island was hit by 96 “catastrophic” earthquakes since 1900. On September 21, 1999, central Taiwan was ravaged by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake that killed 2,415 people and injured more than 11,000, while causing more than $10 billion in damage and disrupting the global supply of key computer components.
Three nuclear power plants are currently in operation in Taiwan — two early Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) designs built in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and one Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) completed in 1985. Following the Fukushima disaster, a nationwide mass movement called for the phasing out of nuclear energy and an end to construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant, which has been hit by repeated delays since the early 2000s. To date, Taiwan has spent an astounding NT$283 billion ($93.7 billion) on the power plant. Reports of poor maintenance and lack of oversight at existing power stations — two of several factors that led to the catastrophe at Fukushima — have compounded doubts about the ability of Taiwan Power Co (Taipower) to ensure nuclear safety. In addition to scrapping the Fourth nuclear power plant immediately, the movement, which includes environmental organizations, concerned citizens, artists, and the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), wants the other three plants to be deactivated as quickly as possible. Activists have also requested amendments to the Referendum Act lowering the threshold necessary to initiate plebiscites.
<snip>
Taiwan Rocked by Anti-Nuclear Protests
Anti-nuclear protesters have taken to the streets of Taipei to demand the end of atomic energy on the island.
By J. Michael Cole
April 28, 2014
Less than a month after the unprecedented occupation of the Legislative Yuan by the Sunflower Movement, riot police and water cannons were once again deployed on the streets of Taipei. But this time, the object of the protests wasn’t a controversial services trade pact with China, but rather nuclear energy, a major point of contention since the 2011 nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi power plant in Japan.
At the center of the storm is the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant currently under construction in Gongliao, New Taipei City. Though ostensibly a much safer design than earlier generations of reactors, fears remain that the Advanced Boiling Water Reactor (ABWR) at the Fourth power plant is an unstable assemblage of various systems — a nuclear Frankenstein monster, if you will. Moreover, opponents of the project argue that Taiwan, a highly active seismic area, is too vulnerable to natural catastrophes, including tsunamis and powerful typhoons. Also, they argue that the small size of the island and proximity of nuclear power plants to high-density urban centers raise questions about the ability of the government to evacuate the population in case of a nuclear emergency.
According to the Central Weather Bureau, which also monitors seismic activity, Taiwan experiences an average of 2,200 earthquakes annually, of which more than 200 are actually felt. Based on statistics, the island was hit by 96 “catastrophic” earthquakes since 1900. On September 21, 1999, central Taiwan was ravaged by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake that killed 2,415 people and injured more than 11,000, while causing more than $10 billion in damage and disrupting the global supply of key computer components.
Three nuclear power plants are currently in operation in Taiwan — two early Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) designs built in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and one Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) completed in 1985. Following the Fukushima disaster, a nationwide mass movement called for the phasing out of nuclear energy and an end to construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant, which has been hit by repeated delays since the early 2000s. To date, Taiwan has spent an astounding NT$283 billion ($93.7 billion) on the power plant. Reports of poor maintenance and lack of oversight at existing power stations — two of several factors that led to the catastrophe at Fukushima — have compounded doubts about the ability of Taiwan Power Co (Taipower) to ensure nuclear safety. In addition to scrapping the Fourth nuclear power plant immediately, the movement, which includes environmental organizations, concerned citizens, artists, and the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), wants the other three plants to be deactivated as quickly as possible. Activists have also requested amendments to the Referendum Act lowering the threshold necessary to initiate plebiscites.
<snip>
http://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/04/28/amid-protests-taiwan-to-halt-work-on-nuclear-plant/
Amid Protests, Taiwan to Halt Work on Nuclear Plant
By AUSTIN RAMZY
April 28, 2014, 2:51 am
Taiwan will halt the construction of a nuclear power plant that had met with public opposition and raised concerns about safety, the governing party has announced.
The decision followed several large protests in Taipei and a hunger strike by a former leader of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party.
<snip>
Protesters had taken to the streets of Taipei over the weekend to demand that construction of the plant be stopped. On Sunday, tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered near the Presidential Office Building, chanting “Stop Nuclear Plant No. 4, Return Power to the People.” They festooned the barbed wire barricades surrounding Mr. Ma’s office with yellow and black ribbons displaying their slogan. Organizers said about 50,000 protesters participated; the police estimated the crowd at 28,500 at its peak.
“Taiwan has lots of earthquakes, and we put these nuclear power plants next to the sea,” said Lin Chin-lung, a 47-year-old who works in finance and first joined the antinuclear demonstrations last year. “The earthquake in Japan, that was important in making people pay attention to the risks we’re talking about.”
<snip>
Amid Protests, Taiwan to Halt Work on Nuclear Plant
By AUSTIN RAMZY
April 28, 2014, 2:51 am
Taiwan will halt the construction of a nuclear power plant that had met with public opposition and raised concerns about safety, the governing party has announced.
The decision followed several large protests in Taipei and a hunger strike by a former leader of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party.
<snip>
Protesters had taken to the streets of Taipei over the weekend to demand that construction of the plant be stopped. On Sunday, tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered near the Presidential Office Building, chanting “Stop Nuclear Plant No. 4, Return Power to the People.” They festooned the barbed wire barricades surrounding Mr. Ma’s office with yellow and black ribbons displaying their slogan. Organizers said about 50,000 protesters participated; the police estimated the crowd at 28,500 at its peak.
“Taiwan has lots of earthquakes, and we put these nuclear power plants next to the sea,” said Lin Chin-lung, a 47-year-old who works in finance and first joined the antinuclear demonstrations last year. “The earthquake in Japan, that was important in making people pay attention to the risks we’re talking about.”
<snip>
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27184298
Clashes as anti-nuclear protests hit Taiwan
28 April 2014 Last updated at 01:40 ET
Police have clashed with protesters demanding construction on Taiwan's fourth nuclear plant be stopped.
Police used water cannon early on Monday to disperse thousands of demonstrators blocking a main traffic route in Taiwan's capital, Taipei.
<snip>
Protestors gathered in Taipei over the weekend and have pledged to continue their sit-in until Tuesday. Many have refused to leave without an official government announcement.
<snip>
Clashes as anti-nuclear protests hit Taiwan
28 April 2014 Last updated at 01:40 ET
Police have clashed with protesters demanding construction on Taiwan's fourth nuclear plant be stopped.
Police used water cannon early on Monday to disperse thousands of demonstrators blocking a main traffic route in Taiwan's capital, Taipei.
<snip>
Protestors gathered in Taipei over the weekend and have pledged to continue their sit-in until Tuesday. Many have refused to leave without an official government announcement.
<snip>
http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201404280019.aspx
Five arrested as police disperse anti-nuclear protesters
2014/04/28 16:06:27
Taipei, April 28 (CNA) Five people were arrested and 40 were injured early Monday when police began dispersing anti-nuclear protesters who were gathered on a main thoroughfare in Taipei, police and hospital officials said.
The five people were arrested for allegedly obstructing law-enforcement officers in the discharge of their duties, said Chou Yu-wen, head of the investigative team from the Taipei Police Zhongzheng First Precinct.
Approximately 50,000 protesters gathered at a rally in front of the Presidential Office in Taipei Sunday, demanding a halt to Taiwan's fourth nuclear power project, and later hundreds of them crowded onto Zhongxiao West Road in front of Taipei Main Station.
The protesters refused to disperse after midnight when the legal permit for the rally expired.
<snip>
Five arrested as police disperse anti-nuclear protesters
2014/04/28 16:06:27
Taipei, April 28 (CNA) Five people were arrested and 40 were injured early Monday when police began dispersing anti-nuclear protesters who were gathered on a main thoroughfare in Taipei, police and hospital officials said.
The five people were arrested for allegedly obstructing law-enforcement officers in the discharge of their duties, said Chou Yu-wen, head of the investigative team from the Taipei Police Zhongzheng First Precinct.
Approximately 50,000 protesters gathered at a rally in front of the Presidential Office in Taipei Sunday, demanding a halt to Taiwan's fourth nuclear power project, and later hundreds of them crowded onto Zhongxiao West Road in front of Taipei Main Station.
The protesters refused to disperse after midnight when the legal permit for the rally expired.
<snip>
