Taiwan Government has not abandoned nuclear energy, says Premier

TAIPEI - The Administration's decision to "mothball" Taiwan's fourth nuclear power plant is neither a u-turn of Government policy nor an exclusion of nuclear energy, Premier Jiang Yi-huah said, drawing a distinction between stopping work on the project, which is the Administration's policy, and scrapping the project altogether, as demanded by anti-nuclear groups and the main Opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Echoing an earlier comment by President Ma Ying-jeou, Jiang said nuclear energy should be kept as an option for future generations.
He categorically denied a rumour circulating on the Internet which claims that the State-run Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) will install fuel rods as soon as a safety inspection of the plant's first reactor is completed in June.

Taipower is responsible for the fourth nuclear project, as well as Taiwan's three other nuclear power plants that are currently in operation. Jiang also said there is absolutely no truth to the rumour that the Administration is requesting another NT$40 billion (US$1.32 billion) to complete the project so it can pass a safety inspection. “No additional funds will be requested," he said.

The Administration's position, confirmed Sunday, is to finish the safety inspection on the plant's already completed first reactor before mothballing the project, Jiang said. No work will be done on the other reactor, which is more than 90% complete, he said. (ATI)