- Unit 1 of Taiwan’s Maanshan nuclear power plant has been shut down for decommissioning after its 40-year license expired, aligning with Taiwan’s nuclear phase-out policy.
- Only Unit 2 of the Maanshan plant remains operational, with its license expiring in May 2025, reducing nuclear power’s contribution to Taiwan’s energy mix from 5% to 2.8%.
- Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party aims for a nuclear-free homeland by 2025, targeting an energy mix of 20
Unit 1 of Taiwan’s Maanshan nuclear power plant has been shut down and will undergo decommissioning after its 40-year operating license expired, in line with Taiwan’s nuclear phase-out policy. With this closure, only one reactor remains operational on the island.
The 936 MWe pressurized water reactor (PWR) was shut down on July 27 and officially entered its decommissioning period on July 28.
Unit 2 of the Maanshan plant, a 938 MWe PWR, is now Taiwan’s only operational power reactor. However, its 40-year operating license will expire on May 17, 2025.
In July 2021, the state-owned Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) submitted a request to the Atomic Energy Council to shut down the Maanshan plant, which comprises two units. Under current regulations, the utility must file a decommissioning application at least three years prior to ending energy production.
The closure of Maanshan 1 occurs amid ongoing discussions among lawmakers about the potential extension of Taiwan’s existing nuclear facilities’ operating lifespans.
Before the shutdown of Maanshan 1, nuclear power contributed about 5% to the island’s energy mix, which is primarily based on coal and liquefied natural gas. With the reactor’s closure, Taipower projects that nuclear energy’s share will decrease to 2.8%.
Phase-out policy
In January 2016, Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was elected in government with a commitment to establish a “nuclear-free homeland” by 2025. This policy entails decommissioning Taiwan’s six operational reactors as their 40-year licenses expire. Shortly after taking office, the DPP government enacted an amendment to the Electricity Act, formalizing its phase-out policy into law. The government’s energy strategy targets a mix of 20% renewable sources, 50% liquefied natural gas, and 30% coal.
In a referendum held in November 2018, voters opted to repeal the amendment. The Ministry of Economic Affairs announced that the amendment was officially removed from the Electricity Industry Act on December 2.
Despite this, then Minister of Economic Affairs Shen Jong-chin stated in January 2019 that there would be no extensions or restarts of nuclear power plants in Taiwan due to both subjective and objective factors, as well as strong public opposition.
In December 2018, Unit 1 of Taiwan’s oldest plant, Chinshan, was taken offline and in July 2019 Chinshan 2 was taken offline.
Kuosheng 1 was scheduled to have its 40-year operating license expire on December 27, 2021, with a planned shutdown. However, in May 2021, Taipower reported that the reactor could only run until June due to a shortage of storage in the unit’s used fuel pool. Unit 2 of the Kuosheng plant was shut down in March 2023.
Construction of two units at Lungmen began in 1999, but the project has encountered ongoing political, legal, and regulatory setbacks. Unit 1, which was finished, was placed into mothballs in July 2015, and construction on Unit 2 was halted in April 2014.
Premier Cho Jung-tai was quoted by Bloomberg on July 17 as saying, “If new nuclear energy technologies can address issues of nuclear safety and nuclear waste, and are accepted internationally, of course, we will be very open to discussing the matter” He added that, for the time being, the government will concentrate on increasing the use of natural gas and decreasing coal consumption.
