Taipei: Taiwan’s state-owned power company is set to submit a plan this month to re-start the decommissioned No. 3 (Maanshan) Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung, potentially allowing it to generate electricity by 2028, Economics Minister Kung Ming-hsin announced. This move comes amid discussions on ensuring a stable energy supply during potential wartime scenarios.

According to Focus Taiwan, during a legislative hearing, Kung responded to a query from Taiwan People’s Party lawmaker Liu Shu-pin about the feasibility of using nuclear energy as a stable energy source in the event of a wartime blockade. Liu cited a U.S. think tank war game exercise that suggested Taiwan’s energy reserves could be quickly depleted if the Taiwan Strait were blockaded by China.

Kung informed that a safety inspection of the No. 3 nuclear plant is currently underway, and Taipower is expected to present a plan for re-starting the plant’s power generation. If the plant’s equipment is in good condition, the timeline for reactivation could be shortened, as the government has already contracted Westinghouse to evaluate the status of the plant’s generators.

Taiwan’s shift towards considering nuclear power marks a significant policy reversal. After Japan’s 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident, opposition to nuclear energy in Taiwan intensified, leading to the halting of the No. 4 (Lungmen) Nuclear Power Plant’s construction in 2014. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), upon taking power in 2016, committed to a “nuclear-free homeland” by 2025, phasing out the country’s nuclear power plants.

The No. 3 nuclear plant was closed in May 2022, contributing to a complete phase-out of nuclear power, which had previously accounted for 19 percent of Taiwan’s energy mix in 2011. By 2025, natural gas and coal became the primary energy sources, supplemented by renewables.

However, recent geopolitical tensions, environmental concerns, and rising energy demands have led Taiwan to reconsider nuclear energy. Last November, the government announced plans to reopen the No. 2 (Kuosheng) and No. 3 (Maanshan) nuclear plants. Nonetheless, the No. 1 (Jinshan) Nuclear Power Plant remains closed due to outdated equipment.

Once operational, the No. 3 plant’s generators could contribute approximately 5.5-6 percent of Taiwan’s total electricity generation, marking a notable step towards addressing the island’s energy security concerns.