Taipei: The result of a recent referendum on the continuation of operations at the Third (Maanshan) Nuclear Power Plant has underscored the complexity of nuclear energy as an issue in Taiwan, as well as the necessity for a broader energy strategy, according to Taiwanese scholars.

According to Focus Taiwan, Saturday's referendum posed the question, "Do you agree that the Third Nuclear Power Plant should continue operating once the competent authority has confirmed that there are no safety concerns?" With 74 percent of participants voting in favor and 26 percent against, the vote did not meet the required threshold of 25 percent of eligible voters for it to pass.

Chen Jong-shun, an associate researcher at the Center for Green Economy of the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research, noted that the inability to reach the threshold indicates ongoing controversy surrounding nuclear energy in Taiwan. He mentioned that although Taiwan Power Co. (Taipower) could potentially restart operations at the plant within two years, this would require broad social consensus, which is currently lacking.

Chen Shih-hau, director-general of the Research Division V of the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research, emphasized that energy security planning must incorporate public opinion to avoid complicating Taipower's strategies. Using the Lungmen Nuclear Power Plant project as an example, he highlighted the supply pressures in northern Taiwan that arose from its delays, until a gas-fired generator at the Datan Power Plant in Taoyuan became operational. These delays necessitated the continued use of heavy oil-fired units at the Hsieh-ho Power Plant in Keelung, postponing its transition to natural gas.

Chen Shih-hau also pointed out that while restarting existing nuclear facilities is more economical than constructing new ones, decommissioning large nuclear plants significantly impacts energy strategy, making diversification crucial.

Tsuang Ben-jei, a professor in the Department of Environmental Engineering at National Chung Hsing University, suggested that solar power with electric vehicle storage, followed by natural gas storage with gas-fired units and geothermal energy, would be the most viable forms of distributed energy in the future. He estimated the cost of such energy would range from NT$5 (US$0.16) to NT$10 per kilowatt-hour.

Additionally, Tsuang highlighted that CPC Corp., Taiwan, operates an underground natural gas storage facility in Miaoli County, capable of providing 26 days of reserve energy for Taiwan. Restoring other natural underground storage sites could expand reserves to over 600 days.