Taiwan has said it is “very open” to using new nuclear technology to meet rising demand from chipmakers using electricity to provide power for the AI boom, according to premier Cho Jung-tai.
“As long as there is a consensus within Taiwan on nuclear safety and a good direction and guarantees for handling nuclear waste, with this strong consensus, we can have a public discussion,” Cho said in an interview with Bloomberg News.
His comments were one of the strongest signs yet that the government is rethinking its opposition to commercial power reactors. Cho appeared to be referring to advanced reactors, potentially including small modular reactors that are being developed in a number of countries.
The comments came as state nuclear operator Taipower temporarily shut down the nation’s last remaining reactor, Maanshan-2, for 41 days for scheduled maintenance, leaving the island without any nuclear generation.
The shutdown is for equipment maintenance and fuel replacement in preparation for the power plant’s next operating cycle, Taipower said in a statement.
Earlier this year, Taiwan shut down the Maanshan-1 nuclear power plant, leaving the island nation with just Maanshan-2 unit in commercial operation.
The closure of Maanshan-1, a 936-MW pressurised water reactor unit in southern Taiwan, came amid a continuing debate among lawmakers about whether to extend the lives of the island’s nuclear facilities.
The Taipei Times said there is a continuing debate among ruling and opposition parties as well as within society about whether to extend the service life of the Maanshan plant amid fears about potential power shortages.
In 2023, nuclear accounted for about 6.9% of Taiwan’s electricity production, which is dominated by coal and liquified natural gas.
