Taiwan: Maanshan nuclear reactor to close as planned

Taiwan Power Co. (Taipower) has confirmed that the No. 2 reactor at Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung County will gradually reduce its power generation on Saturday afternoon, May 17, before being disconnected from the grid and completely shutting down as planned. The reactor is the last operating one in Taiwan, and its decommissioning represents the fulfillment of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) nuclear phase-out policy. However, opinion was divided on the closure of the Maanshan nuclear facility, and the DPP’s promise to increase power generation from renewables is still unrealized, making the country dangerously dependent on fossil fuels. In 2024, for example, renewables accounted for just 11.6% of energy generation, while fossil fuels accounted for over 83%, complicating the fight against carbon emissions and global warming.
After being shut down, the Maanshan nuclear reactor will start the decommissioning process, with the removal of the reactor’s core fuel rods scheduled in the coming days. The fuel rods will then be stored in spent fuel pools. According to Taipower, other energy sources will make up for the shutdown of the facility, which generated just under 3% of Taiwan’s electricity in recent years.