There are signs that Taiwan is considering a change in direction regarding its energy policy. In an interview with Bloomberg, Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai signaled that future nuclear energy technology may be adopted to address the island's needs. This is a significant change for the Taiwanese, as existing nuclear power facilities have been run down with no direct replacement plans, and only one reactor remains in operation as of 2024. An ample and stable electricity supply is essential to the island's widely envied semiconductor industry.
Over the last decade or two, the relatively small island of Taiwan has been decommissioning nuclear power plants with no plans for like-for-like replacements. The public was convinced that the move away from nuclear power was a wise policy direction after the 2011 Fukushima incident in neighboring Japan caused such calamity.
