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Taiwan Begins Shutdown of Final Nuclear Reactor, Completing Nuclear Phaseout

The decommissioning of Maanshan Reactor No. 2 fulfills Taiwan's 2016 pledge to exit nuclear power by 2025, as the country shifts toward gas and renewables.

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Overview

  • Taiwan initiated the shutdown of its last operational nuclear reactor, Maanshan Reactor No. 2, with full decommissioning expected by midnight local time.
  • This marks the culmination of the Democratic Progressive Party's 2016 energy plan to phase out nuclear power by 2025, driven by safety concerns after the Fukushima disaster.
  • Prime Minister Cho Jung-tai assured that electricity supply remains stable, supported by upcoming gas-fired plants and a reserve margin above safety thresholds.
  • Parliament recently passed an amendment allowing reactor lifetime extensions of up to 20 years, but reactivation of decommissioned reactors would require new legal and safety reviews.
  • Critics question whether Taiwan's growing energy demand can be met without nuclear power, citing geopolitical risks and the need for a more diversified energy supply.