Varsity scholars advocate for abstaining from the upcoming referendum on Saturday

In the Southern Taiwanese city of Pingtung, a contentious referendum on the restart of the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant has sparked debate among politicians, academics, and local residents.

The Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant, situated near Hengchun Township, has been a subject of controversy for several reasons. One of the main concerns is the proximity of a tectonic fault line, which lies just 900m from the reactors. This has raised questions about the safety of the plant, especially given the potential impact of a large earthquake. According to Professor Chen Wen-shan, such an event might occur on the geological layer the power plant rests on.

Another issue is the plant's historical record. Chiu Hua-mei, an assistant professor of sociology at National Sun Yat-sen University, has highlighted that the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant has faced abnormalities or circumvented regulations 30 times. Most Pingtung County residents, however, remain unaware of these incidents.

The cost of nuclear power is another concern. A levelized cost of electricity assessment indicates that nuclear power has a higher average cost of generating electricity over the lifespan of a facility compared to power from renewable sources at the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant. This has led Professor Tai Hsing-sheng to assert that nuclear power does not meet the EU's standards for financial sustainability.

The political landscape surrounding the referendum is also complex. Many leading figures in the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Taiwan People's Party, once vehemently opposed to nuclear energy, have since embraced it. This U-turn, considered beyond what a normal person would consider reasonable by a source in the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), has been met with scepticism. The DPP has also warned of disinformation and false narratives being disseminated about the referendum.

Professor Tsuang Ben-jei has raised the issue of the Kuroshio current, which flows off Hengchun, potentially affecting fisheries near Taiwan. He also warned that if a disaster similar to Fukushima Dai-ichi occurred at the Ma-anshan site, several areas would have a high chance of becoming permanent exclusion zones.

In response to these concerns, more than 523 academics have urged the public to vote "no" in the referendum. Chiu Hua-mei believes that county residents should not be forced to live with nuclear power any longer, as it would enact regional injustice. The DPP has also pledged to increase campaigning to urge "no" votes in the referendum.

As the referendum approaches, the debate over the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant continues, with both sides presenting compelling arguments. The ultimate decision, however, lies with the voters of Pingtung County.