Taiwan iinitiated procedures to reactivate two nuclear power plants, about a year after the closure of the last reactor in operation, due to high energy demand associated with artificial intelligence and tensions in the Middle East.
The state-owned company Taipower is working to obtain the necessary authorizations to reactivate the Kuosheng plants, in the north of the country, and Maanshan, in the south, Taiwanese leader William Lai said on Saturday.
According to Lai, the company is expected to present a plan to the Nuclear Safety Commission by the end of this month, stressing that nuclear safety, waste management and social consensus are the “three key factors” to consider.
The initiative comes after the closure of the last reactor at the Maanshan plant, in May 2025, which marked the end of the nuclear era in Taiwan, following the progressive dismantling of the Chinshan and Kuosheng plants between 2018 and 2023.
The previous decision achieved one of the main objectives of the Democratic Progressive Party, which defended a “nuclear energy-free homeland”, especially after the Fukushima accident.
The island’s “strong economic development”, the need for low-emissions electricity and the growing energy consumption of the artificial intelligence industry, along with recent legislative changes, however, have led the government to reconsider its position, Lai acknowledged.
The leader was referring to a law approved last year by parliament, with an opposition majority, which now allows nuclear power plants to continue operating even after they enter the dismantling phase.
The eventual return to nuclear energy is also explained by geopolitical factors. In 2025, liquefied natural gas represented more than 47% of Taiwan’s electrical production, with about a third imported from Qatar, according to official data.
Around 70% of the crude oil imported by the island also comes from the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, which increases vulnerability to possible interruptions in supply due to the current conflict in the region.
In a statement, the Ministry of Economic Affairs indicated that the supply of natural gas should remain stable until the end of May and that imports are already diversified across 14 countries, reducing dependence on the Middle East.
The dependence on fuels imported by sea also exposes Taiwan to a possible blockade by China, which considers the island part of its territory and does not exclude the use of force.
In recent Chinese military maneuvers around Taiwan, called “Mission Justice-2025”, the army simulated scenarios of blockade and seizure of ports and other strategic infrastructures.
Lusa
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