Premier Jiang Yi-huah says the suspension of construction on the fourth nuclear power plant does not mean scrapping the existing plant. He was speaking Monday at a press conference.
About 50,000 people took to the streets on Sunday to protest against the construction, citing security concerns. President Ma Ying-jeou bowed to public pressure on Sunday night. He announced that the government had decided to seal the plant’s No.1 reactor following an inspection, and halt the construction of its No. 2 reactor.
Jiang said the decision was based on an agreement that the ruling and opposition camps reached last year and a consensus among ruling party mayors and county chiefs on Sunday. But he said that does not mean tearing down the plant.
“Sealing the [No. 1] reactor and stopping the construction of the [No. 2] reactor does not mean discontinuing construction on the fourth nuclear power plant, nor does it mean scrapping the project," said Jiang. "We made the decision to give the next generation some options, at a point in which society has yet to reach a consensus or decide on the issue via a referendum.”
Jiang said there is no timetable for holding a referendum on the controversial issue. He said it’s also likely that the referendum will be further postponed. Jiang also said the government has made the biggest concessions possible in accordance with the law.
Meanwhile, Economics Minister Chang Chia-juch says the government is planning to call an energy resources meeting by September to discuss Taiwan’s energy future.