TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A coalition of Taiwanese environmental groups, including the Wild at Heart Legal Defense Association, held a press conference on Monday urging the public to vote “no” in an upcoming referendum on restarting the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung County.
Environmentalists warned that restarting or extending the operation of a nuclear power plant requires significant resources and rigorous regulatory oversight. Mishandling could lead to disaster, they said, firmly opposing the resumption of operations at the recently decommissioned plant, per UDN.
Ho Li-wei (賀立維), a member of the Pingtung County Oversight Nuclear Safety Commission, said Taiwan should not move forward without a full risk assessment and an established oversight system. He emphasized that the consequences of restarting the plant could be unpredictable.
Ho drew parallels with the Crystal River Nuclear Power Plant in the US, which, like Maanshan, used a pressurized water reactor. The Crystal River plant suffered major structural damage during a steam generator replacement project in 2009, ultimately leading to repair costs exceeding US$3 billion (NT$89.6 billion) and permanent closure.
He also noted that Maanshan is located along the Hengchun Fault and has experienced methane leaks, nuclear safety incidents, and reports of radiation contamination over its 40-year operating history.
Tzu Chi University Associate Professor of Public Health Hsieh Wan-hua (謝婉華) warned that restarting the plant could pose serious health and environmental risks. Exposure to radiation could raise the incidence of cancers such as thyroid cancer and leukemia, she said.
“Fuel rod damage and cooling water leaks will impact the environment,” Hsieh added. She also cited social and psychological effects seen after the Fukushima disaster, including postpartum depression, PTSD, and stigma among evacuees.
Lee Kuei-lin (李桂林), a retired Taipower employee who worked in a nuclear plant for over 30 years, spoke of his experience with occupational illness. He said the company failed to provide adequate training and protective equipment such as lead vests and blankets. As a result, he now suffers from anemia and a severely weakened immune system.
Environmental groups said Maanshan has a long history of safety concerns and has reached the end of its operational life. Restarting the plant would pose unacceptable risks to public safety, they said, and called on voters to reject the referendum.
