Taiwan came to a historical turning point on Saturday when the nation’s last operating nuclear reactor was shut down at midnight, making Taiwan one of the few countries that does not use nuclear power. A nuclear-free era has finally arrived.
The No. 2 reactor at the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung County was disconnected from the nation’s power grid at 10pm, Taiwan Power Co said.
The phasing out of nuclear power has been a goal of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) even before it took power in May 2016. It has advocated for eliminating nuclear power in favor of renewable energy and fossil fuels.
The DPP’s “nuclear-free homeland by 2025” goal has borne fruit. It is society’s collective response to safety and sustainability, fulfilling its duty to protect the environment.
The three major nuclear disasters in world history — the Three Mile Island accident in Pennsylvania, the Chernobyl disaster in the then-Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant incident in Japan — are a reminder that once such an accident occurs, it can result not only in pollution that can last many generations, but also have unbearable consequences on people’s lives and health.
After the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant incident, Taiwanese became more sensitive and aware of the risks of nuclear energy, especially as Taiwan has many earthquake zones. With frequent natural disasters, any nuclear incident would be catastrophic. It is an unbearable risk to Taiwan.
The Cabinet said it had no plans to extend the service life of the No. 2 reactor at Ma-anshan, even though the Legislative Yuan passed an amendment last week allowing nuclear facilities to extend their operating licenses from 40 years to 60 years.
Taiwan’s nuclear facilities are made with technology that dates back to the end of the 20th century. Extending their operating lifespans beyond the date they are supposed to expire creates safety concerns, and despite maintenance and checkups throughout the years, it cannot remedy safety issues caused by aging equipment and designs.
The problem of nuclear waste storage, which is a threat to the environment and people’s health, also remains unsettled.
However, President William Lai (賴清德) has adopted a pragmatic attitude. The government said it has not ruled out any energy solutions that could help achieve its goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Before new nuclear facilities can be turned on, they must meet three conditions: safety concerns are addressed, the problem of nuclear waste storage is solved and there must be social consensus.
The energy solutions include the installation of small modular nuclear reactors — a new generation nuclear power technology that is safer.
The government does not blindly reject nuclear power. Instead, it considers energy options in a rigorously scientific manner, prioritizing safety while handling the matter through a democratic mechanism.
The shutting down of the last operating nuclear reactor symbolizes the end of an era marked by risks. Being nuclear-free is an important starting point in Taiwan’s energy transition.
Whether the nation is to adopt new nuclear power should be thoroughly discussed by the public and the experts. We must carefully consider how to protect people’s lives, maintain environmental sustainability and forge nationwide consensus.
Taiwan belongs to its 23 million people. Every energy option must take people’s safety and well-being into consideration.
Lee Li-sheng is a political worker.
Translated by Fion Khan
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