Taiwan is preparing to hold a referendum on Saturday (23 August) to decide whether the Maanshan-2 nuclear power plant – which stopped operating in May after 40 years of service – should be restarted.

The centre-left Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) proposed the referendum in the legislature on April 18 and the bill was passed on May 20 with backing from the main opposition, the right-wing Kuomintang (KMT).

The referendum question reads: “Do you agree that the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant should continue operation upon approval by the competent authority and confirmation that there are no safety concerns?”

Supporters of the proposal argue that nuclear power offers stable electricity and low carbon emissions, and can be generated consistently – unlike solar and wind, which are affected by weather.