Taiwan shuts down its last nuclear reactor

The Maanshan nuclear power plant in southern Pingtung County, Taiwan

Taiwan’s last operating nuclear power reactor was shut down late Saturday, capping four decades of operation in line with the government’s policy to phase out atomic energy, though whether that goal can be achieved remains uncertain.
The No. 2 reactor at the Maanshan power plant in southern Pingtung County ended operations as the country moves to phase out nuclear power following Japan’s 2011 Fukushima disaster.
However, just days before the shutdown, Taiwan’s parliament passed an amendment allowing nuclear power plant operators to apply for a 20-year license extension beyond the current 40-year limit. The revision was approved with backing from two opposition parties, which hold a majority over the ruling Democratic Progressive Party in the legislature.
The Country’s Nuclear Safety Commission said any extension of aging reactors’ lifespans must meet international safety standards and practices to ensure feasibility and effectiveness. Authorities have said restarting the Maanshan reactor would take 16 to 18 months.
The Taiwan Environmental Protection Union, a conservation group, opposed restarting the Maanshan reactor, citing difficulties in properly assessing its safety since all equipment lifespans were evaluated based on a 40-year benchmark.
Meanwhile, nuclear power advocates argue that recommissioning plants would help reduce carbon emissions and curb air pollution.
“Let the experts speak, not politicians. The decision on whether it can be used should be based on professional evaluation, not political will,” said Yang Chia-fa, founder of the Climate Change Pioneering Alliance.
This may be a major retrograde action by Taiwan because India, a rapidly rising economic and military power, is likely to more than double the production of electricity through nuclear reactors in next few years.