Taiwan president Ma Ying-jeou, during an interview held jointly by Japan-based Daily Yomiuri and Nikkei, indicated that Taiwan's fourth nuclear power plant located on the northeastern coast is expected to be completed and come into commercial operation in 2014 while the government has not yet decided on disposal of the three existing ones when they reach the end of their commissioned life.
The nuclear accident at Fukushima, northeastern Japan, has had some influence on Taiwan's nuclear energy policies but will not prevent Taiwan from adopting nuclear power generation, Ma said.
For the three nuclear power plants under operation currently, the government will determine whether they will be phased out of commission on schedule or whether their scheduled service life will be extended. This would involve consideration of secure power supply and stable power pricing as well as Taiwan's international promise to reduce carbon emissions. Total emissions will be decreased to the 2005 level in 2020 and to the 2000 level in 2025, Ma pointed out.
