On May 17, 2025, the operating license of the No. 2 reactor at Taiwan’s Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant—the last nuclear reactor currently in operation in the country—is set to expire, placing the facility on the brink of decommissioning. Simultaneously, Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan has become a battleground over amendments to existing laws, with opposition parties advocating to ease restrictions on the extension of nuclear power plant operations.
In a recent in-depth report, Germany’s public broadcaster Das Erste visited Hengchun Township, where the Maanshan plant is located, and cited commentary from Dr. Tsai-Ying Lu, Director of Climate Resilience and Sustainability Program at DSET, on Taiwan’s nuclear energy policy and broader energy security challenges.
The report highlighted local residents’ concerns over nuclear safety, as well as the delays faced by the government in advancing renewable energy infrastructure. It underscored the social and technical divisions that continue to shape Taiwan’s path toward a “nuclear-free homeland.”
Given Taiwan’s heavy reliance on imported energy, some voices have called for retaining nuclear power as a backup option in wartime scenarios. However, Das Erste pointed out that while China might cut off Taiwan’s coal and gas supplies in a crisis, the nuclear fuel supply chain is equally vulnerable. Dr. Lu noted, “The question arises as to whether new fuel rods can be procured before a potential crisis.”
The report further noted the long-term decline of Taiwan’s nuclear energy sector. Existing spent fuel storage facilities are nearly full, and the country has yet to establish a final disposal site—making the reception of new fuel rods effectively impossible. Dr. Lu emphasized, “Considering the time required, the construction of new fuel storage capacity, and also the financial aspects, it would be extremely difficult for Taiwan to take this path in the short term.”
Confronted with the convergence of energy security risks, seismic hazards, and geopolitical uncertainties, Das Erste underscored that nuclear energy policy is not merely a technical issue, but one that encompasses strategic reserves, risk governance, and public communication.
The report concluded that while the Taiwanese government has not entirely ruled out the future use of nuclear energy, the prospect of a nuclear revival remains distant.