00:00Voters in Taiwan have decided not to bring back nuclear power in a nationwide referendum,
00:09with the yes votes failing to meet the threshold to pass.
00:12Still, the number of votes cast in favor was almost triple the number of votes against,
00:18indicating strong public support for the energy source.
00:21Now, with President Lai Qingde saying he will not rule out the possibility of a nuclear comeback
00:26in a response to the referendum result, and the legislature passing an amendment
00:31to allow a 20-year extension on nuclear power plant licenses this May.
00:36Some practical problems are back in the spotlight.
00:39For the past decades, the highly radioactive spent fuel rods have been stored in the
01:09these pools inside the plants, while low-level radioactive waste, such as contaminated construction
01:15materials, have been stored in the plants and on the outlying Orchid Island.
01:20Taiwan's state-run power company, Tai Power, has a plan to build more dry storage facilities
01:25on site, as the current ones reach capacity.
01:29One pro-nuclear environmental group says the issue could be easily resolved.
01:33But the anti-nuclear camp says it's not just about space. There are also maintenance problems.
01:56Dry storage facilities last four or five decades, after which they run the risk of radiation leaks.
02:03However, dry storage is only a temporary solution, and there are no laws to decide where to dispose of the spent fuel permanently.
02:32As discussions around Taiwan's nuclear energy policy continue, waste management will continue to be a big issue,
02:39likely for generations to come.
02:41Hank Xu and Irene Lin for Taiwan Plus.
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