Taipower Plans to Restart Two Decommissioned Nuclear Facilities

Taiwan Power Co (Taipower) is set to submit a detailed plan to the Nuclear Safety Commission by March 2024, aiming to restart two decommissioned nuclear power plants. This plan follows a recent evaluation report approved by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, which confirmed the feasibility of reactivating the Guosheng Nuclear Power Plant located in New Taipei City’s Wanli District and the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung County’s Hengchun Township.

The evaluation did not extend to the Jinshan Nuclear Power Plant, also situated in New Taipei City. The Ministry of Economic Affairs stated that the Jinshan facility is not a viable candidate for restart due to its two reactors being decommissioned over eight years ago, alongside significant aging of its equipment.

As part of the restart strategy, Taipower will initiate a series of safety inspections at both plants. This will include a thorough assessment of equipment degradation and seismic resilience. The Ma-anshan plant’s inspections are anticipated to involve peer reviews and support from the original manufacturer, extending the process to approximately one-and-a-half to two years. The timeline for the Guosheng plant is expected to be longer, as the removal and secure storage of used nuclear fuel from the reactor must occur before safety checks can begin.

These developments arise in the context of amendments to the Nuclear Reactor Facilities Regulation Act passed in May 2023. This legislation provides a legal framework allowing the continued operation of nuclear facilities even after they have begun the decommissioning process. The No. 2 reactor at the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant was officially shut down on May 17, 2023.

Taiwan’s energy landscape has shifted significantly, with all three nuclear power plants in operation as of 2014 now decommissioned. In that year, nuclear energy accounted for approximately 15 percent of the nation’s electricity generation. Proponents of nuclear power argue for the reactivation of existing plants and advocate for the completion and operation of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City’s Gongliao District, which was nearly finished before construction was halted in 2014.

According to the Energy Administration, fossil fuels accounted for around 85 percent of Taiwan’s electricity generation in the first nine months of 2023. As the country navigates its energy future, the discussions surrounding nuclear power are likely to remain a focal point in the ongoing dialogue about sustainable and low-emission electricity sources.