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Malaysian Reserve
6 days ago
- Politics
- Malaysian Reserve
Nuclear plant shutdown leaves Taiwan facing energy crunch
Lack of long-term waste storage and Japan meltdown fuelled opposition to atomic power by SING YEE ONG & CINDY WANG IN 1996, a rust-streaked freighter carrying barrels of nuclear waste attempted to dock at Orchid Island off the south-east coast of Taiwan. It never made it to shore. Hundreds of residents, mostly from the island's indigenous community, blocked the vessel with fishing boats and rocks, forcing it to turn back. It was the last time nuclear waste was sent there. 'I told them, if they insisted on coming in, we would burn the ship that night,' recalled Kuo Chien-ping, one of the movement's leaders. Onshore, residents armed with rocks and bottles they claimed were filled with gasoline — it was actually water — lined the pier prepared to defend their island, also known as Lanyu. 'It was the first time the government really listened to us,' said Syaman Lamuran, whose entire family joined the protest. 'Everyone was there. Even my mother, barely 5ft tall, was clutching a stone.' That defiant moment — part resistance, part reckoning — helped shape Taiwan's decades-long retreat from nuclear energy. The island shut its last reactor on May 17, the culmination of a phaseout strategy that threatens Taiwan's energy-guzzling chip industry and its security as tensions with China rise. The move also runs counter to the growing global appetite for atomic power, especially in nations racing to fuel artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and meet climate change emissions targets. Taipower power plant on Orchid Island. The island derives energy from diesel and gets no electricity from nuclear plants Costly Decision Taiwan's decision comes with a steep price. The final reactor shutdown, the sixth since 2018, takes place just as power demand is projected to rise 13% by the end of the decade, largely driven by data centres and chipmakers. Each shuttered reactor adds about US$500 million (RM2.19 billion) in annual liquefied natural gas (LNG) import costs, according to Bloomberg calculations. Taking into account energy demand growth, Taiwan may need to spend around US$2 billion more per year on LNG purchases by 2030, according to a BloombergNEF analysis. Already, companies like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, or TSMC, face soaring electricity bills, with rates on the island surpassing those at their overseas plants. That's why nearly three decades since that standoff on Orchid Island, smaller and less hostile protests have been organised in downtown Taipei, this time in support of keeping the Maanshan nuclear plant on Taiwan's southern tip online. Over a hundred activists, including lawmakers and staff from state-utility Taiwan Power Co (Taipower), stationed themselves outside the Ministry of Economic Affairs early this month and raised red banners reading: 'The wrong policy will destroy Taipower.' Rising fuel costs and renewable energy (RE) investments have weighed on the finances of Taipower, the island's primary power supplier. The state utility, which has absorbed higher costs to keep prices affordable, reported over NT$420 billion (RM61.18 billion) in accumulated losses by the end of last year. That's putting pressure on the government to increase power rates for businesses and households. 'Taipower can only stop having losses if it extends the life of nuclear plants', because those facilities don't operate at a loss, said Java Yang, a Taipower worker and organiser of the May 1 pro-nuclear demonstration. 'We lost lots of money because the price of natural gas has surged, and we paid too much for RE.' There have been signs that the govern- ment is softening its stance. Taiwan's legislature revised a nuclear power bill on May 13 that effectively opens the door for a restart of the island's atomic plants by renewing or extending licences for up to 20 years, but it isn't clear if the central government will push forward with that strategy. For now, it's too late to halt the closure of Maanshan, which is hitting its 40-year operational limit. Premier Cho Jung-tai said it could take 3.5 years to safely restart a closed plant, citing an estimate from Taipower. Nevertheless, one of Taiwan's opposition parties said it intends to hold a public referendum on resuming operations at the plant in August. A similar vote in 2021 narrowly cemented the closure of one nuclear plant. This time could be different. 'Taiwan's public opinions seem to indicate that this referendum will definitely pass,' said Chang Chi-kai, a lawmaker from the Opposition Taiwan People's Party. 'The Referendum Act stipulates that when a referendum passes, the government has the responsibility and duty to implement it.' Nuclear waste treatment plant on Orchid Island. Lacking permanent disposal site, govt faces pressure to cut nuclear reliance Economic and Security Risks Starting in the early 1980s, shipping nuclear waste for storage on Orchid Island was standard practice, though most local residents weren't initially told what was happening. But following the highly-publicised protests nearly three decades ago, no other Taiwanese town was willing to accept the shipments. High-level waste, like spent fuel from reactors, was just stored on site at nuclear plants. With no permanent waste disposal site, the government was under increasing pressure to reduce atomic generation. Then came the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan — a magnitude 9.0 earthquake off the coast severely damaged the Fukushima Dai-ichi power plant, leading to a partial meltdown that released radiation into the surrounding air, water and soil. It was the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl. That calamity — accompanied by a devastating tsunami — was the final nail in the coffin for Taiwan's nuclear industry. 'Taiwan has many geographical faults and we have a lot of earthquakes, so the risk of an accident happening here is higher,' said Tsai Ya-ying, a lawyer at Wild at Heart Legal Defence Association. 'One nuclear accident can be considered the end of Taiwan.' Following a decisive 2016 election victory, the Democratic Progressive Party cemented a complete nuclear phaseout into law. At the time, the goal was for Taiwan to accelerate the deployment of wind and solar to replace nuclear. But the island has fallen short on those goals. Initially targeting 20% renewables by mid-decade, the government downgraded its goal to 15% by 2025. As of late 2024, renewables made up less than 12% of the energy mix, according to Taiwan's energy administration. To maintain a stable power supply, Taipower is adding nearly five gigawatts (GW) worth of gas-fired capacity to the grid this year, equal to roughly five nuclear reactors. Taiwan's power supply will be stable through at least 2032, Premier Cho said last month. 'New electricity consumption has been taken into consideration, and the addition of new units is larger than decommissioning to ensure a stable power supply,' Taiwan's energy administration added. Removing nuclear from the energy mix will raise power generation costs by NT$100 billion annually, according to Chang, the Opposition lawmaker. Also at risk are green goals: Taiwan aims to reduce its emissions by about 38% in 2035 from 2005 levels. TSMC expects to hit peak carbon emissions this year. Following the reactor shutdown on May 17, Taiwan will derive roughly 84% of its electricity from fossil fuels — up slightly from 2024. Nuclear contributed about 5% of electricity generation in 2024, down from 20% in the early 2000s. While nuclear generates toxic long-term waste, it produces almost no greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, unlike coal and gas. Global Trend 'If we phase out nuclear, our carbon emissions will spike,' warned Eugene Chien, a government advisor who heads the Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy, or TAISE. He noted that environmental concerns are pushing more citizens to reconsider nuclear energy. In November, a TAISE poll showed 58% of respondents supported nuclear power, while 23% opposed it. That's an increasingly global trend. Even Japan has moved away from its decision to shut down nuclear plants — last month its atomic watchdog approved the first nuclear restart since 2021. Nations from the US to Belgium are taking similar steps. Moreover, Taiwan's reliance on seaborne LNG shipments to fill the gap doesn't just heighten environmental concerns — it creates a strategic vulnerability amid rising tensions with China, which considers the self-governing island to be part of its territory. A Chinese blockade could prevent deliveries and quickly drain gas reserves. With just 11 days of gas storage, Taiwan faces a serious risk if shipments are disrupted by conflict or disaster, Chien said. Even with pockets of support for nuclear emerging on Orchid Island, many of its roughly 5,000 residents remain wary, fearing links between the waste and health issues, including cancer and deformities in local fish. While earlier protests succeeded in halting new waste shipments, efforts to move the existing waste have largely stalled. 'I've fought for 30 years,' said Kuo from Orchid Island. 'How many 30 years do we have in life? I am still fighting.' — Bloomberg This article first appeared in The Malaysian Reserve weekly print edition
Qatar Tribune
18-05-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Taiwan shuts down last nuclear reactor
TaipeicTypeface:> Taiwan on Saturday began to shut down its last active nuclear reactor, officially marking its departure from atomic power. The No. 2 reactor at the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant in southern Taiwan, with a capacity of 951 megawatts, was set to be completely shut down by midnight local time, after its 40-year operating license expired, according to the state-owned energy supplier, Taiwan Power Company (Taipower). This move fulfils a key promise of the government's 2016 energy plan. The decision was largely influenced by the 2011 nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan. '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,' Jusen Asuka, a professor at Japan's Tohoku University, told DPA. The decommissioning of Taiwan's older nuclear power plants began in 2018 and 2021, followed by the shutdown of Maanshan's first reactor in July 2024. At its peak in the mid-1980s nuclear power provided more than 50% of electricity, but in 2024 its share dropped to about 3%. (DPA)
Malay Mail
15-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Taiwan to pull plug on nuclear power, sparking energy security fears
TAIPEI, May 15 — Taiwan will turn off its last nuclear reactor on Saturday, fuelling concerns over the self-ruled island's reliance on imported energy and vulnerability to a Chinese blockade. The island, which targets net-zero emissions by 2050, depends almost entirely on imported fossil fuel to power its homes, factories and critical semiconductor chip industry. President Lai Ching-te's Democratic Progressive Party has long vowed to phase out nuclear power, while the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party says continued supply is needed for energy security. Ma'anshan Nuclear Power Plant in southern Pingtung county is being closed as China intensifies military activity around Taiwan, which Beijing claims as part of its territory and has vowed to bring under its control one day. During large-scale military drills around Taiwan in April, China simulated strikes on key ports and energy sites as well as blockading the island. Ma'anshan has operated for 40 years in a region popular with tourists and which is now dotted with wind turbines and solar panels. More renewable energy is planned at the site, where state-owned Taipower plans to build a solar power station capable of supplying an estimated 15,000 households annually. But while nuclear only accounted for 4.2 per cent of Taiwan's power supply last year, some fear Ma'anshan's closure risks an energy crunch. 'Taiwan is such a small place and currently there's no other better and more efficient natural energy source that can replace nuclear power,' said Ricky Hsiao, 41, who runs a nearby guesthouse. 'The reality is that TSMC and other big companies need a lot of electricity. They would leave Taiwan if it's not stable,' he told AFP, referring to chipmaking giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. But mother-of-two Carey Chen fears an accident like the 2011 Fukushima nuclear meltdown in Japan, which like Taiwan is prone to earthquakes. 'If we can find other stable power sources, I support a nuclear-free homeland for everyone's safety,' Chen, 40, told AFP. Stable supply At its peak in the 1980s, nuclear power made up more than 50 per cent of Taiwan's energy generation, with three plants operating six reactors across the island. Concerns after the Fukushima disaster saw a new plant mothballed in 2014 before it was even finished. And two plants stopped operating between 2018 and 2023 after their operating permits expired. Most of Taiwan's power is fossil fuel-based, with liquefied natural gas (LNG) accounting for 42.4 per cent and coal 39.3 per cent last year. Renewable energy made up 11.6 per cent, well short of the government's target of 20 per cent by 2025. Solar has faced opposition from communities worried about panels occupying valuable land, while rules requiring locally made parts in wind turbines have slowed their deployment. Lai insists Taiwan's energy supply will be stable even as AI technology boosts demand, with new units in existing LNG and coal-fired plants replacing Ma'anshan's output. The KMT and Taiwan People's Party, which control the parliament, amended a law on Tuesday enabling nuclear plants to extend their operating life by up to 20 years. 'Nuclear power is not the most perfect way to generate electricity,' KMT lawmaker Ko Ju-chun told AFP. 'But it is an option that should not be eliminated when we are developing technology, defence, and strengthening national security.' Chinese threat Taiwan's reliance on imported fossil fuels is of particular concern given the risk of a Chinese blockade. The island has enough LNG and coal reserves to last just 11 and 30 days, respectively, government data show. Taiwan's centralised electricity grid also leaves swaths of the island at risk of major power outages in case of a single fault. Without nuclear, 'our energy security cannot be guaranteed, and national security will be affected', said Yeh Tsung-kuang, an energy expert at Taiwan's National Tsing Hua University. Environmental activists argue renewables are the best way to bolster Taiwan's energy resilience. 'If every community has solar panels on its roofs, the community can be (more) self-sufficient', said Tsui Shu-hsin, secretary-general of Green Citizens' Action Alliance. But others note Taiwan's break-up with nuclear is at odds with global and regional trends. Even Japan aims for nuclear to account for 20-22 per cent of its electricity by 2030, up from well under 10 per cent now. And nuclear power became South Korea's largest source of electricity in 2024, accounting for 31.7 per cent of the country's total power generation, and reaching its highest level in 18 years, according to government data. Yu Shih-ching, chief of Hengchun town where Ma'anshan is located, said the plant had brought jobs and boosted the local economy. 'Our view is that nuclear power is necessary,' he told AFP, calling it 'an important driving force for the national economy' and a 'great help to local areas'. And Lai acknowledged recently he would not rule out a return to nuclear one day. 'Whether or not we will use nuclear power in the future depends on three foundations which include nuclear safety, a solution to nuclear waste, and successful social dialogue,' he said. — AFP
Japan Times
14-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Taiwan opens door to restart atomic power plants in reversal
Taiwanese lawmakers revised a nuclear power bill that effectively opens the door for a restart of the island's atomic plants, underscoring a wider policy shift as its energy demand grows and geopolitical tensions worsen. Under the amended law, nuclear plants that could previously only operate for 40 years will be allowed to renew or extend their licenses for up to 20 years at a time, according to Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu. The revision also allows operators to apply for license renewal before or after it expires. Energy security is a critical issue for Taiwan, which has sought to phase out its nuclear industry but has also been forced to contend with the needs of a vital chipmaking industry and an uncomfortable reliance on imported fossil fuel. Concerns have increased as Beijing exerts more pressure and the technology industry's power demands soar. The bill comes just days before Taiwan's last operating reactor is set to go offline. The May 17 closure will not be averted, but Tuesday's vote hints at a reversal that could bring the territory into line with a global trend of renewed interest in nuclear energy, seen as an effective, low-carbon solution for the world's needs. Taiwan's Premier Cho Jung-tai told a locally-produced podcast that his cabinet would not oppose bringing back decommissioned reactors if the legal amendment is approved. But he added it would take 3.5 years to review safety before a restart, citing state-owned Taipower's estimate. The government does not have immediate plans to evaluate any nuclear plant extensions or restarts, according to a statement by the Cabinet on Tuesday after the passage of the bill. That's because detailed regulations have not been formulated yet, it said. Using nuclear power could slash Taiwan's reliance on imported liquefied natural gas — which arrives by sea and would be vulnerable in the event of any sharp rise in tensions with Beijing, particularly a naval blockade. It would also ease fears about energy security in the coming years as power consumption is set to grow by about 13% by end-decade, thanks to the rapid growth of artificial intelligence.
Straits Times
14-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Taiwan opens door to restart atomic power plants in reversal
The Bill comes just days before Taiwan's last operating reactor is set to go offline. PHOTO: AFP Taiwanese lawmakers revised a nuclear power Bill that effectively opens the door for a restart of the island's atomic plants, underscoring a wider policy shift as its energy demand grows and geopolitical tensions worsen. Under the amended law, nuclear plants that could previously operate for only 40 years will be allowed to renew or extend their licences for up to 20 years at a time, according to legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu. The revision also allows operators to apply for renewal of a licence before or after it expires. Energy security is a critical issue for Taiwan, which has sought to phase out its nuclear industry but has also been forced to contend with the needs of a vital chipmaking industry and an uncomfortable reliance on imported fossil fuel. Concerns have increased as Beijing exerts more pressure and the technology industry's power demands soar. The Bill comes just days before Taiwan's last operating reactor is set to go offline. The May 17 closure will not be averted, but May 14's vote hints at a reversal that could bring the territory in line with a global trend of renewed interest in nuclear energy, seen as an effective, low-carbon solution for the world's needs. Taiwan's Premier Cho Jung-tai told a locally produced podcast that his Cabinet would not oppose bringing back decommissioned reactors if the legal amendment is approved. But he added that it would take 3½ years to review safety before a restart, citing state-owned Taipower's estimate. The government does not have immediate plans to evaluate any nuclear plant extensions or restarts, according to a statement by the Cabinet on May 14 after the passage of the Bill. That is because detailed regulations have not been formulated yet, it said. Using nuclear power could slash Taiwan's reliance on imported liquefied natural gas – which arrives by sea and would be vulnerable in the event of any sharp rise in tensions with Beijing, particularly a naval blockade. It would also ease fears about energy security in the coming years as power consumption is set to grow by about 13 per cent by the end of the decade, thanks to the rapid growth of artificial intelligence. BLOOMBERG Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
