Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan took a courageous step in May to reactivate the island’s nuclear reactors. They managed to do this by amending the Nuclear Reactor Facilities Regulation Act. Operators are now free to renew or extend licenses up to a length of 20 years. This new change lays the important groundwork for the possible reactivation of the Maanshan and Kuosheng nuclear power plants. The decision follows the approval of a county-wide referendum, passed in August. In that vote, over 80 percent of voters supported keeping the Maanshan facility open.
The Maanshan plant is home to two very robust, modern pressurized water reactors that each produce 936 megawatts of electricity. It is worth remembering that these units are almost identical to the Mark-1 boiling water reactors that were part of the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan. This undermines safety and regulatory compliance, and it is precisely why the independent safety and compliance inspection should be the cornerstone of any restart agreement.
Safety Inspections and Regulatory Compliance
The timeline for the independent safety inspection for the Maanshan plant is expected to last about 1.5 to 2 years. We’ll be doing a lot of different evaluations during this time. Ultimately, it’ll provide confidence that the facility is safe enough for us to make any irreversible decisions about operations. The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) has approved a current status assessment report from Taiwan Power (Taipower). TSN’s recommendations In light of TSN’s findings outlined in this report, restarting both the Kuosheng and Maanshan nuclear power plants is technically and environmentally advisable.
“Subsequent reviews by international professional technical institutions and peers will be required, and the process will proceed according to the Nuclear Safety Council’s review results. Further social consensus is also necessary.” – MOEA
The past 10 months of Kuosheng’s operation have proven that it is feasible to restart the plant. The process for Maanshan will take considerably longer as we first need to remove used fuel from its reactors. The sheer scope of this massive effort speaks to the careful organization needed to protect public safety and follow current law.
Electricity Generation and Public Support
The three nuclear power plants in question—Kuosheng, Maanshan, and Chinshan—previously produced about 15% of Taiwan’s electricity. All six reactors at these facilities have been forced to shut down as their initial 40-year operating licenses expired. Maanshan 1 was shuttered in July 2024, with Maanshan 2 soon to follow on May 17 of this year. Kuosheng’s two reactors were finally shut down in July 2021 and in March 2023. At the same time, review the reactors at Chinshan, which closed respectively in 2018 and 2019.
Amidst these unprecedented energy demands and a geopolitical pivot toward prioritizing energy security over energy transition, public support for nuclear energy has swelled. During the recent binding referendum, 4,341,432 voters (73.5% of the electorate) indicated their willingness to see the Maanshan facility remain open. This overwhelming support indicates a shift in societal attitudes toward nuclear energy as a viable option for meeting Taiwan’s energy needs.
“Society’s expectations for diverse energy options” – President Lai Ching-te
The endorsement from President Lai underscores the government’s recognition of the necessity to explore various energy solutions to address Taiwan’s energy challenges.
Future Plans and Timeline
Taipower intends to present a detailed plan for resuming operations in the two plants. They hope to bring this before the Nuclear Safety Commission by March 2026. This plan should lay out specific timelines and safety protocols to be followed at all stages of the reactivation.
Restarting Maanshan especially poses unique challenges, particularly regarding the fuel removal protocols. Taipower is hopeful to bring back these important energy facilities. The Legislative Yuan has laid the groundwork for these efforts through a new regulatory framework. Taiwan now faces the challenge of meeting the islands energy needs while keeping safety at the forefront of its priorities.