Tens of thousands of Taiwanese have protested to demand that the government scrap a US$10 billion nuclear power plant that is nearly complete and slated to begin operating in two years.

Saturday’s protests were held in four cities. Many protesters chanted “We must not put the future of our children up for a vote.”

The government says halting the project could lead to electricity shortages and has proposed a public referendum to resolve the issue. But at least half of the eligible voters need to vote for a referendum to pass, which activists say will work against them.

Taiwan’s opposition party has long opposed nuclear power, and public caution over nuclear safety has risen following the 2011 nuclear disaster in Japan.