Cabinet members and ruling-party parliamentarians say that the Lungmen Nuclear Power Plant project is not a viable green alternative for fossil fuels. Those statements came during a question session in Taiwan’s legislature on Thursday.
The project, commonly known as the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant, was started in 1999, but was suspended shortly thereafter. Although it was briefly restarted multiple times, it remains mothballed today, and groups have expressed concern over its age and overall state.
Lawmaker Su Chiao-hui says the power plant cannot be considered green, because Taiwan has no way of processing spent nuclear fuel. The project would also need ten more years of construction and NT$80 billion (US$2.8 billion) in investment. This means it cannot contribute to meeting current environmental goals.
Vice Economics Minister Lin Chuan-neng, meanwhile, says that the plant has not passed the Atomic Energy Council’s inspections. He says its safety systems are outdated and are no longer manufactured.
Environmental Minister Chang Tzi-chin says Taiwan should instead focus on carbon capture, utilization, and storage in fulfilling its carbon reduction goals.