Thousands of People Protest Against Use of Nuclear Energy in Taiwan

96 anti-nuclear groups took part in the protesting marches in Taiwan.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Thousands of Taiwanese took to the streets in the country's major cities of Taipei, Tainan and Kaohsiung on Saturday to protest against the use of nuclear power, the Focus Taiwan news channel reported.

In total, 96 anti-nuclear groups took part in the marches in Taiwan, according to the news channel.

In Taiwan’s capital Taipei, the protesters staged a funeral ceremony to "bid farewell to nuclear power," as quoted by Focus Taiwan.

The demonstrations of the anti-nuclear activists were organized to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the 2011 disaster at the Japanese Fukushima nuclear plant that led to radiation leaks into the atmosphere, soil and sea.

45,000 people join anti-nuclear rallies in #Taiwan http://t.co/T0hzqkXhbY pic.twitter.com/1PHLIJq87u

— The Straits Times (@STcom) March 14, 2015

Taiwan is dependent on the nuclear power since about 20 percent of its electricity is generated at the country's three nuclear power plants.

In April 2014, Taiwan's authorities were forced to halt construction of its fourth nearly completed nuclear facility due to public pressure.

Due to the suspension of the plant's construction, Taiwan's electricity reserves margins might fall from 14.7 percent in 2014 to 10 percent in 2016, officials from the Ministry of Economic Affairs said as quoted by the Focus Taiwan earlier on Saturday.

The future of the fourth plant might reportedly be subject to a national referendum.