Referendum on extending No. 3 nuclear power plant operation defeated

Taipei, Aug. 23 (CNA) A referendum seeking to extend the operation of Taiwan's Third Nuclear Power Plant failed on Saturday after falling short of the required support threshold, the Central Election Commission (CEC) said.

The ballot asked: "Do you agree that the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant should continue operating once the competent authority has confirmed that there are no safety concerns?"

According to the CEC, 4.34 million people (21.7 percent) voted "yes," while 1.51 million (7.5 percent) voted "no." Turnout reached 29.53 percent.

Although more people voted "yes" than "no," the referendum failed to meet the legal threshold requiring affirmative votes from at least 25 percent of eligible voters, or 5,000,523 ballots.

The Maanshan facility, also known as the Third Nuclear Power Plant, was shut down in May, leaving Taiwan without any operating nuclear power plants.

The referendum was proposed by the Taiwan People's Party in April and backed by the opposition Kuomintang. Supporters said nuclear energy provides stable, low-carbon power and reduces reliance on imports.

They also cited scandals in the solar sector, Taipower's financial losses, and the fact that the European Union and Japan have embraced nuclear power.

Opponents warned that the plant lies near a fault line, posing a risk in the event of earthquakes. They argued a restart would also be costly, worsen the nuclear waste problem.

However, Saturday's results suggest that even residents most likely to be affected lean toward supporting nuclear power.

For example, on Orchid Island, where Taiwan's low-level nuclear waste is currently stored, 535 residents voted in the referendum. Of those, 344 backed the continued operation of the Maanshan plant and 181 opposed, with voter turnout at 12.1 percent, according to the CEC.

In nearby New Taipei City, districts close to the First, Second, and Fourth nuclear plants, turnout was about 20 percent, but "yes" votes still outnumbered "no" votes.

President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said the result showed the referendum had failed, but also highlighted public expectations for a diverse energy mix. He pledged nuclear-related safety rules would be strengthened, with state-run Taiwan Power Co. required to carry out inspections and share updates with the public.