To ensure energy safety, phase out reliance on nuclear energy and ultimately achieve the goal of a non-nuclear homeland, the Executive Yuan today passed the draft of the Energy Safety and Non-Nuclear Homeland Promotion Act, which will be sent to the Legislative Yuan for review.
Premier Jiang Yi-huah said that the draft bill was formulated by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) in line with the energy development vision unveiled by President Ma Ying-jeou November 3, 2011, which consists of ensuring nuclear safety, steadily reducing dependence on nuclear energy, creating a low-carbon environment and gradually progressing toward a non-nuclear homeland. The law aims to establish an assessment and review mechanism to consider aspects such as energy supply, demand and systems. Its goal is to ultimately achieve a non-nuclear homeland under the premises of not limiting the use of electricity, maintaining electricity prices at a reasonable level and fulfilling Taiwan's promise to the international community that it will reduce carbon emissions, remarked the premier.
The Taiwanese people have been much more concerned about nuclear safety since the March 11, 2011 tsunami caused by the Great Tohoku Earthquake damaged Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant in Japan, causing radiation to leak into the local environment, noted Premier Jiang. "However, energy is an issue that concerns national security, people's livelihoods, industrial development and environmental protection and has a far-reaching influence on the nation's sustainable development," he responded. "This is especially true of Taiwan, an island whose electric grids operate independently and which imports more than 98 percent of its energy. As such, an unsteady supply of energy would definitely compromise national security, industrial development and people's livelihoods."
Premier Jiang gave instructions that after the draft bill is sent to the Legislative Yuan, the MOEA and the Atomic Energy Council should proactively communicate with the legislative caucuses of various political parties and seek their support to make the bill a law during the current legislative session.
The bill is summarized as follows:
1.The act's purpose and implementation guidelines and items (Articles 1-3)
2.Measures the government should establish regarding energy supply, demand and systems and the establishment of emergency response mechanisms and risk management (Articles 4-7)
3.Nuclear power plant operators' obligations for ensuring nuclear safety and government responsibilities for safety supervision and the disposal of nuclear waste (Article 8)
4.Ordering a mechanism to evaluate the time frame for creating a nuclear-free homeland while ensuring a stable energy supply, reasonable electricity prices and the fulfillment of international commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (Article 9)
5.Mandating concrete measures to promote energy security and a nuclear-free homeland (Article 10)
6.Principles of information disclosure and communication with the public (Article 11)
7.Calling for increased international cooperation to enhance Taiwan's energy security and nuclear safety (Article 12)
8.Deepening sustainable energy education to encourage active participation in promoting energy security and a nuclear-free homeland (Article 13)