In response to public concerns over the government's position on nuclear power plant relicensing and restart, the Ministry of Economic Affairs stated on March 22 that, in the face of shifting international energy conditions, domestic economic development, and growing AI-driven electricity demand, the government remains committed to its core energy transition goals of maintaining stable power supply, ensuring energy security, and achieving steady carbon reduction.
The ministry added that it will address nuclear plant relicensing and restart issues prudently, on the basis of safety, legal frameworks, and social communication.
According to the ministry, any restart of nuclear power plants must follow established nuclear safety regulations, involve independent safety inspections by Taiwan Power Company, and undergo full review by the Nuclear Safety Commission — and operational approval cannot be granted simply by submitting a restart report.
The ministry outlined the current status of each nuclear unit. Taiwan Power Company has signed a contract with original equipment manufacturer Westinghouse Electric of the United States to conduct an independent safety inspection of Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant (No. 3 Nuclear Plant). A restart operational plan is to be submitted to the Nuclear Safety Commission for review by the end of March.
For Kuosheng nuclear power plant (No. 2 Nuclear Plant), the ministry said Taiwan Power Company has sought assistance from original manufacturer General Electric. The relevant safety inspection procedures for No. 2 Nuclear Plant can only commence after both the outdoor dry storage facility has been completed and the spent fuel has been fully removed from the reactor core.
On electricity demand, the ministry acknowledged that surging power consumption driven by artificial intelligence and semiconductor industries has intensified pressure on supply stability. The government conducts annual rolling reviews of electricity supply and demand planning, a process that already incorporates various industrial development scenarios.
However, in recent years, surging international geopolitical risks, combined with the rapid economic growth driven by the AI wave and the explosive expansion of Taiwan's semiconductor industry and AI supply chains, have significantly increased long-term electricity demand. Future reviews will evaluate various energy mix scenarios to strengthen the stability of domestic power supply.
Regarding the renewable energy transition, the ministry said installed renewable energy generation capacity has grown from approximately 4.7 gigawatts to 22.9 gigawatts over the past decade. In the process of promoting green energy, the ministry noted that it has encountered an external environment marked by misinformation and stigmatization, as well as irrational obstruction and increasingly stringent regulatory conditions.
Grounded in its commitment to conveying accurate information about green energy, the ministry pledged to maintain information transparency and ongoing public communication, address public concerns about renewable energy, ensure steady green energy development, and strengthen Taiwan's industrial international competitiveness.
The ministry concluded by emphasizing that nuclear plant relicensing and restart must comply with nuclear safety regulations, and must involve procedures including Taiwan Power Company's independent safety inspections, professional evaluation and analysis, and safety review by the Nuclear Safety Commission.
