Taiwan shuts down its last nuclear reactor
Taiwan on Saturday began to shut down its last active nuclear reactor, officially marking its departure from atomic power.
"This sends a strong message not only to other Asian nations like Japan and Korea but also to the rest of the world that nuclear power is unnecessary," Tohoku University professor Jusen Asuka told DPA.
The decommissioning of Taiwan's older nuclear power plants began in 2018 and 2021, followed by the shutdown of Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant's first reactor in July 2024.
At its peak in the mid-1980s, when all six reactors were active, nuclear power provided more than 50% of Taiwan's electricity, but in 2024 its share dropped to about 3%.
On Friday, Premier Cho Jung-tai assured the public that power supply would remain stable despite rising demand, driven by key industries such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence.
Critics have questioned whether Taiwan's growing energy needs can be sustainably met without nuclear power. Given the ongoing tensions with China, some specialists argue for greater energy independence through a diversified supply. — DPA
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