Taiwan, China plans to restart Ma'anshan Nuclear Power Plant in 2028

Taiwan, China previously pursued a nuclear phase-out policy, but the direction is now showing signs of adjustment. The Taiwan Nuclear Safety Commission recently initiated the final administrative procedures for the Ma'anshan Nuclear Power Plant restart plan submitted by Taiwan Power Company, and the plan is expected to enter the formal review stage. Based on the current progress, the relevant units could resume operation as early as 2028.

The Ma'anshan Nuclear Power Plant, also known as Taiwan's Third Nuclear Power Plant, is located in Hengchun Township, Pingtung County. The plant's commercial operating license has expired, and it previously ceased commercial operation. Data shows that the Ma'anshan Nuclear Power Plant once supplied approximately 5% of Taiwan's electricity, making it one of the key power sources in the local power system.

Taiwan had previously proposed ceasing nuclear power operations by 2025 and replacing them with renewable energy and other power sources. In recent years, electricity demand from industries such as artificial intelligence and semiconductor manufacturing has continued to grow, compounded by pressures on power supply stability and energy security, discussions on restarting nuclear power have gradually intensified. TSMC, the world's largest semiconductor foundry, consumes approximately 9% of Taiwan's total electricity, drawing further attention to the issue of stable power supply.

In August last year, Taiwan held a referendum on restarting the Ma'anshan Nuclear Power Plant. The voting results showed that approval votes accounted for approximately 74%, but the referendum failed to pass because it did not meet the legal threshold. Nevertheless, public support for restarting nuclear energy continues to expand.

A relevant official from the Taiwan Nuclear Safety Commission stated that the subsequent review will focus on safety technical assessment reports and supporting documents to confirm compliance with regulatory requirements and nuclear safety standards. Ye Zongguang, Director of the Institute of Nuclear Science at Tsinghua University, believes that the relevant units could be restarted before June 2028, indicating that Taiwan's energy policy is shifting from its original nuclear phase-out route toward a greater emphasis on stable power supply.

Data from Taiwan Power Company shows that natural gas currently accounts for the largest share of Taiwan's power generation mix, at approximately 47.2%; coal-fired power accounts for approximately 31.1%; and oil accounts for approximately 1.4%. Fossil energy collectively accounts for nearly 80%, while renewable energy accounts for approximately 11.9%. If the Ma'anshan Nuclear Power Plant resumes operation, it is expected to help reduce some coal-fired power generation demand and provide support for stabilizing electricity prices.