Taiwan passes law to end nukes generation by 2025

January 12, 2017

Taiwan passes bill to end nuclear power by 2025

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20170112_02/

Taiwan's parliament has amended a law to terminate nuclear power generation by 2025.

Three nuclear power stations are operating in Taiwan, accounting for 16 percent of the island's power generation in 2015.

But with increased anti-nuclear opinion following the 2011 accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in Japan, Tsai Ing-wen won the presidential election with a pledge to phase out nuclear power.

Her administration submitted amendments to the electricity act to end the use of nuclear power by 2025.

The legislature passed the amendments on Wednesday.

The amendments call for greater use of renewable energy resources, such as solar and wind energy, and allow private companies to sell electricity to the main utility company.

Taiwan's administration wants to raise the percentage of renewable energy from the current 4 percent to 20 percent.

But critics say the end of nuclear power is likely to destabilize energy supply and raise utility charges.