TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Pegatron Corporation Chair Tung Tzu-hsien (童子賢) will speak out on behalf of restarting the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant in the run-up to the Aug. 23 national referendum despite his membership of a government environmental body, reports said Saturday.

Tung was appointed deputy convener of the National Climate Change Committee under the Presidential Office. One of the key policies of President Lai Ching-te’s (賴清德) DPP government was to turn Taiwan into a nuclear-free homeland this year.

While the aim has been achieved, the opposition used its majority at the Legislative Yuan to help force through a referendum about restarting the nuclear plant in Pingtung, even though it ceased operations in May. The TPP said Friday that Tung would be one of five speakers in favor of the proposal at five debates ahead of the referendum, per CNA.

Asked about the announcement, Tung said restarting the reactors was the right thing to do for Taiwan’s energy policy, and his participation in the debates had nothing to do with party politics, the Liberty Times reported. He added he was not worried that his stance would change his relationship with the government.

Tung said his support for nuclear plants was based on realism, as Taiwan faced difficulties in producing energy. On previous occasions, the business leader described the nuclear sector as a more reliable source of energy than renewable or alternative green energy. The latter were less stable and required large surfaces, Tung said.

The televised debates or presentations for the nuclear referendum have been scheduled by the Central Election Commission on Aug. 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15. Each side will have prominent speakers defending their case, including government officials, academics, and politicians.