Some people cite national security as justification for Taiwan to retain nuclear power. They believe that if Taiwan were to be blockaded by China, it would be impossible to import natural gas, oil or coal, and that nuclear power would be necessary to meet energy demands due to limited reserves.
However, the presence of nuclear power plants would actually be a burden and a threat to Taiwan in the event of war.
Nuclear power is an imported energy source, and nuclear plants themselves rely on external electricity to start and maintain safe operations. Large plants — such as the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung County that was decommissioned in May — are prime targets for enemy attacks, as disabling their power transmission and distribution lines alone can cause large-scale power outages without even having to destroy the facilities themselves. Thus, the operation of nuclear power plants does not enhance energy security and resilience — rather, it undermines them.
Furthermore, nuclear plants are typically shut down as a precaution in the event of an enemy siege or attack to prevent nuclear disaster. However, even when shut down, nuclear plants still depend on external electricity to cool the reactor core and spent fuel pools. This prevents fuel rods from melting or exploding due to excessive heat, which could lead to a massive leak of radioactive materials.
Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is a perfect example of this. Throughout the Ukraine war, it has been unable to generate electricity, instead relying on external power sources to maintain its safety. Thus, relying on nuclear power in times of war not only fails to provide electricity, but even adds to energy demand, all while posing a threat to public safety.
Surrounded by hostile forces and highly dependent on energy imports, Israel’s non-nuclear approach is worth learning from. As of 2023, fossil fuels accounted for nearly 90 percent of Israel’s electricity consumption — natural gas accounted for about 71 percent and coal about 17 percent. Renewable energy makes up about 10.5 percent — similar to Taiwan’s 9.6 percent — a majority of which comes from solar power, which contributes 9.4 percent.
To ensure energy security and improve energy resilience, Taiwan must develop domestically sourced renewable energy, expand energy storage systems and establish a decentralized power grid. In 2016, the government decided against extending the operational lifespan of nuclear power plants, and the last reactor at the Ma-anshan plant has already been disconnected from the power grid and completely shut down.
However, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) legislators have proposed a referendum that, if passed, would call on the government to resume operations of the plant if proven safe by the authorities. This would be detrimental to Taiwan’s energy transition and hinder the development of local, independent, safe, resilient and sustainable energy systems. If the Ma-anshan plant were to be recommissioned, the entire nation would once again be burdened with nuclear waste, shrouded in the ever-present risk of nuclear disaster. We must do our utmost to prevent this harmful course of action from taking place.
Shih Hsin-min is a professor of chemical engineering at National Taiwan University.
Translated by Kyra Gustavsen
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