Taiwan Shuts Down Final Nuclear Reactor

Taiwan has officially ended its use of nuclear energy after beginning the shutdown of its last operational nuclear reactor on Saturday.

This marks a significant milestone in the island’s energy transition plan.

State-run Taiwan Power Company announced that Reactor No. 2 at the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant in southern Taiwan is scheduled to be fully deactivated by midnight local time.

The 985-megawatt reactor has reached the end of its 40-year operational license, fulfilling a central promise of Taiwan’s 2016 national energy strategy.

The phase-out has been largely driven by public concerns following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan.

That incident had a major influence on Taiwan’s policy direction, prompting the gradual decommissioning of its older nuclear reactors. Previous closures occurred in 2018 and 2021, with the first reactor at Maanshan permanently shut down in July 2024.

While environmental groups and safety advocates have welcomed the move, it has raised questions about how Taiwan will ensure energy security and meet rising electricity demand. The shutdown is expected to increase reliance on fossil fuels in the short term.

Taiwan’s government has committed to boosting investment in renewable energy, particularly in offshore wind and solar power, to reduce carbon emissions and support a sustainable energy future.