Taiwan to Reconsider Nuclear Power as Energy Security Concerns Rise
Taipei, Taiwan – Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te signaled a significant shift in energy policy Saturday, stating that the second and third nuclear power plants “meet the conditions for reactivation” as the island nation navigates growing concerns over energy security and a volatile global energy market. The move represents a potential reversal of decades-long efforts to phase out nuclear power, a policy championed by Lai’s own Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
The announcement comes amid increasing reliance on imported fossil fuels, particularly as Taiwan’s critical semiconductor industry demands a stable and affordable power supply. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has further underscored the vulnerability of Taiwan’s energy imports, prompting a reassessment of domestic generation capacity. According to Lai, state-owned utility Taipower will submit applications to the Nuclear Safety Council by the end of March for review of the restart proposals.
For nearly four decades, nuclear power was a substantial component of Taiwan’s electricity mix. However, following the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in Japan, public anxieties over nuclear safety intensified, fueling a push for a “nuclear-free homeland.” Former President Tsai Ing-wen enshrined this goal into law in 2016, aiming for complete nuclear phase-out by 2025. The last operating reactor at the Ma’anshan nuclear power plant, also known as the third nuclear power plant, was shut down in May 2025, in line with that policy. The second nuclear power plant was decommissioned in 2023 after its operating permit expired.
Lai defended the policy shift, arguing that the goal of a “non-nuclear homeland” had effectively been achieved with the shutdown of the second reactor at the third plant. He also asserted that renewable energy sources, including wind, solar, small hydropower and hydrogen, had compensated for the loss of nuclear generation under Tsai’s green energy initiative, maintaining a stable power supply. However, he acknowledged the need to reassess Taiwan’s overall energy strategy in light of evolving geopolitical and economic realities. “The two approaches can move forward together without any contradiction or conflict,” Lai stated, referring to the parallel development of renewable energy and potential nuclear restarts. Focus Taiwan reports.
Deputy economic minister Ho Chin-tsang indicated Friday that the Ma’anshan plant could potentially be operational again as early as 2028, though a timeline for the second plant remains unclear. The Nuclear Safety Council will evaluate the restart applications, focusing on safety considerations and gauging public consensus, Lai explained.
The decision to consider nuclear restarts also reflects growing international demand for low-carbon energy sources, particularly to support energy-intensive industries like artificial intelligence. “The international community needs low-carbon electricity, and we must also consider the electricity required for computing power in the era of artificial intelligence,” Lai said.
Lai also addressed concerns about immediate energy supplies, assuring the public that Taiwan’s oil and natural gas reserves are currently sufficient for the months of March, April, and May. He added that additional oil and gas purchased from the United States is expected to arrive in June. Taiwan maintains legal requirements for 90 days of oil reserves and 11 days of natural gas reserves, and currently holds over 100 days of oil and 12 to 14 days of gas, according to the President. Taiwan News reported these details.
Despite the President’s assurances, the move to potentially reactivate nuclear plants is likely to face opposition from within the DPP, which has historically opposed nuclear power. The ultimate fate of the second and third plants remains uncertain, pending the Nuclear Safety Council’s review and the outcome of public debate.