President Ma Ying-jeou says that Taiwan cannot phase out nuclear power before finding a suitable substitute. Ma was speaking on Friday at an awards ceremony for leaders in the tech industry.
He said that renewable energy sources remain unstable, and that the incoming administration must think carefully before going ahead with a decision to scrap Taiwan’s nuclear power plants.
Ma said that a nuclear-free Taiwan may be possible, but it must be a goal that is achieved in small steps. Ma said that finding a workable substitute is must before any change to Taiwan’s nuclear energy sector.
Friday was the fifth anniversary of Japan’s Fukushima nuclear disaster. Ma said that a number of countries, including Japan, began working to scrap nuclear power after the disaster. But he said that of these countries, only Germany has stayed on a nuclear-free course.
He said that Japan was forced to reverse its policy halting nuclear power, as expensive imports of natural gas turned a national trade surplus into a trade deficit. He also said that globally, the number of nuclear power plants in operation, under construction, or in planning has increased rather than decreased.
Ma said that Taiwan has much in common with Japan. Both are in earthquake prone areas, though Taiwan is rarely affected by tsunamis. Both import most of their energy, with Taiwan reliant on imports for 98% of its energy needs. And as islands, both have closed power grids and are unable to buy power from neighbors.
Ma said that renewable energy remains unable to meet Taiwan’s needs. He said that as his presidency nears its end, Taiwan’s energy problem is the issue that worries him the most. He said that whether as president or as a private citizen, he is concerned about Taiwan’s future.
Ma said he is especially concerned that power shortages brought on by phasing out nuclear power could drive away foreign investment and businesses. He said that if Taiwan moves to scrap nuclear power, it must move forward slowly.