The costs for mothballing the controversial fourth nuclear power plant will not exceed NT$4 billion (roughly US$133 million) over the 3-year period starting 2015.
That’s the word from Deputy Economics Minister Woody Duh on Thursday. Duh was speaking at a press conference after the announcement that the nuclear plant’s first reactor has passed safety checks.
Duh said the 3-year period assumes that a referendum on the mothballed plant will not take place for another 2 to 3 years.
There has been pressure from the opposition parties and anti-nuclear activists who are concerned about the safety of the plant in an earthquake-prone country like Taiwan.
President Ma Ying-jeou has said that the government will hold a referendum on whether to bring the inactive plant online or shut down the facilities permanently.