Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/03/11
By: Pan Tzi-yu and Flor Wang 

Taipei, March 11 (CNA) Despite fears that Taiwan will face power shortages in three years due to the government’s energy policy, a survey has found that over half of the people still want it to reduce the output of thermal power.

The poll results echoed the outcome of the No.7 referendum held Nov. 24 last year, in which 73.8 percent of voters answered “yes” to the question: “Do you agree to a reduction of 1 percent per year of the electricity production of thermal power plants?”

The referendum result, widely viewed as a public outcry against pollution from the use of fossil fuel for power generation, has put the administration of the Democratic Progressive Party in a dilemma due to its long-time advocacy of phasing out the use of nuclear power and making Taiwan nuclear free by 2025.

According to the results of the survey released by the Taiwan Research Institute (TRI) Monday, 54.4 percent of the respondents said they back the government’s desire to carry out the policy in line with the referendum result “even if power shortages are foreseen in three years.”    [FULL  STORY]