Taiwan began shutting down its final nuclear reactor at the Maanshan plant on Saturday as its 40-year license expired, removing a source that provided about 3% of the island’s electricity. This move comes despite recent legislative revisions that now allow nuclear plants to extend operations by up to 20 years.
The shutdown raises concerns over energy security, especially for Taiwan’s power-intensive semiconductor industry. Taiwan Power Co. is adding nearly 5 GW of gas-fired capacity and 3.5 GW from wind and solar to offset the nuclear gap, but reliance on imported LNG is expected to continue.
Nuclear power is about half as costly as LNG, and Taipower’s weak finances may force the government to raise electricity prices. Even if the Maanshan reactor is revived under the new law, a restart could take 2–4 years following safety checks.
