Taiwan has taken an unexpected turn in its energy policy and It is studying the revival of nuclear energy just one year after closing its last operating reactor.The combination of soaring electricity demand driven by the expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) and growing instability in the Middle East has set off alarm bells about the island's security of supply.
This change of course comes after years of betting on a “Nuclear-free homeland” promoted by the Progressive Democratic PartyThis has been a very prominent slogan since the Fukushima accident in 2011. Now, the debate is reopening with force, not only in Taiwan, but also in Europe and Spain, where the discussion about the role of nuclear power in the midst of the energy transition and digital revolution is more alive than ever.
Reactivation of the Kuosheng and Maanshan nuclear power plants
Taiwanese President William Lai has confirmed that the state-owned electric utility Taipower It is already working on the procedures to resume operations at two key nuclear power plants: Kuosheng and Maanshan.These are facilities located in the north (New Taipei) and in the south (Pingtung County), which had been taken out of service under the nuclear phase-out plan.
As Lai explained at a public event, Taipower will present a detailed plan to the Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC) at the end of this monthThe regulatory body is responsible for analyzing whether reopening is viable from a technical and safety standpoint. The document must address both the condition of the facilities and the operating and monitoring protocols.
The last operating reactor at the Maanshan nuclear power plant was shut down in May of last year, marking the Formal closure of the nuclear era in Taiwan following the progressive dismantling of Chinshan and Kuosheng between 2018 and 2023The reopening of these plants would, in practice, reverse one of the most symbolic energy decisions of the last decade on the island.
Lai stressed that the regulator should be guided by Three criteria considered “essential”: nuclear safety, radioactive waste management and social consensusWithout these elements, he pointed out, a stable and long-term return to nuclear energy will not be given the green light.
The announcement has reignited internal political tensions, with pro-nuclear sectors pressing to accelerate the reopening and anti-nuclear groups warning that Resuming this energy source could represent a step backwards in the transition to a 100% renewable system.
Artificial intelligence drives up electricity demand
One of the factors that weighs most heavily in the change of the Government's position is the “solid economic development” of the island and, in particular, the boom in the artificial intelligence industryData centers, large servers, and high-performance computing systems require enormous amounts of electricity continuously.
Taiwan is a strategic player in the global technology chain, especially in semiconductors and key components for AI applicationsThese high value-added activities are also very energy-intensive, which requires a stable, abundant supply with the smallest possible carbon footprint.
In this context, the Executive acknowledges that maintain a low-carbon electricity matrix exclusively with renewables and natural gas The situation is becoming increasingly complex, especially if demand growth continues at the current rate. Nuclear energy is thus re-emerging as a solution that, for some political and business actors, could bring stability and reduce emissions.
This situation has a direct impact in Europe and Spain, where the development of data hubs and AI projects raises Similar challenges in terms of electricity consumption and the need for backup infrastructureAlthough the European debate incorporates other elements, such as CO₂ markets and community climate objectives, technological and digital pressure is pushing in the same direction: ensuring sufficient and reliable energy.
According to Taiwanese authorities, Failing to respond in time to the energy needs of the AI sector would mean losing competitiveness compared to other technological hubs in Asia, North America or the European Union itself, which adds an additional economic dimension to the nuclear discussion.
Critical dependence on gas and oil from the Middle East
Beyond the technology industry, the nuclear shift is driven by a Growing concern about security of supply linked to geopolitical instability in the Middle EastLiquefied natural gas (LNG) became the island's main source of electricity generation in 2025, contributing more than 47% of the total.
A third of that gas comes from Qatar, according to data from Taiwan's Energy Administration, reflecting a heavy concentration of energy imports in a region subject to conflict and tensionAny disruption to trade flows or problems on shipping routes could directly impact the country's ability to maintain its electricity supply.
The dependence is even more evident in the case of oil: Approximately 70% of the crude oil imported by Taiwan comes from the Middle East.with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates as its main suppliers. This reality reinforces the feeling of vulnerability to external shocks beyond the island's control.
Combining high dependence on foreign energy and armed conflict in the region This has led the government to reconsider whether it can continue to base its economic growth almost exclusively on imported fossil fuels. Nuclear energy is presented as a way to diversify the energy mix and reduce, at least partially, this exposure.
This same concern resonates in Europe, where the war in Ukraine brought to the forefront the need to reduce dependence on gas and oil from geopolitically sensitive areasCountries like France, Finland, and the Czech Republic have strengthened their commitment to nuclear power precisely to gain strategic room for maneuver.
Official position: safety, waste and social consensus
In a recent statement, Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs sought to send a message of calm by emphasizing that The supply of natural gas is guaranteed, at least until the end of May.The government maintains that the island has already diversified its import sources and buys gas from a total of fourteen countries, so it is not exclusively dependent on the Middle East.
Despite that clarification, President Lai himself acknowledges that the conditions of the international environment and the growing importance of AI This makes it necessary to open the door to nuclear energy as part of the future strategy. According to their argument, it's not about replacing renewables, but about adding an additional source that reduces risks.
The Government insists that any decision must go through the NSC, which will analyze the matter in depth. safety criteria for the Kuosheng and Maanshan nuclear power plantsas well as plans to manage radioactive waste, a particularly sensitive issue for public opinion.
The memory of the Fukushima accident in 2011 remains very present in Taiwanese society. That disaster spurred the political commitment to the progressive closure of nuclear power plants and the total abandonment of nuclear energy, a goal that, in theory, had been met with the shutdown of the last reactor in 2023.
Now, the reopening of the debate forces us to to seek a new balance between security, environment and economic needsThe issue is not simple: while some citizens see nuclear power as an unacceptable risk, other sectors perceive it as a lesser evil compared to climate and geopolitical threats.
A debate that also looks towards Europe and Spain
What happens in Taiwan cannot be understood solely from a local perspective. The dilemma between Maintain or reactivate nuclear energy while simultaneously advancing renewables This is happening in many countries, including European ones. The rise of AI and digitalization makes this discussion even more relevant on the other side of the world.
In Europe, the European Commission has recognized nuclear power as a potential role within green taxonomyprovided it meets strict safety and waste management criteria. This has opened the door for some Member States to use it as a support for a transition less dependent on fossil fuels.
Spain, for its part, maintains a schedule for the progressive closure of its nuclear power plantsThis is happening in parallel with a strong expansion of wind and solar power. However, the expected increase in electricity demand due to the electrification of the economy, AI, and new data centers is generating a technical debate about how to ensure the necessary backup power for the system.
The Taiwanese case serves as an example of just how far Technological changes and international tensions may force a review of energy plans that seemed to be finalized.The combination of AI, climate goals, and security of supply paints a complex picture with no easy solutions.
In this global context, the discussion about whether nuclear power should be a temporary, long-term, or dispensable part of the energy mix is ongoing. It will continue to set the political and economic agenda in both Asia and Europe.Taiwan, with its unexpected shift towards the possible reopening of nuclear power plants, becomes a key observatory for understanding how these decisions evolve in an environment increasingly conditioned by technology and geopolitics.
Taiwan's decision to consider a return to nuclear power, pressured by the rise of artificial intelligence and the fragility of supplies from the Middle East, illustrates how energy security, economic competitiveness and the fight against climate change They are intertwined in the same debate. The decision made on the island regarding Kuosheng and Maanshan will be closely followed in Europe and Spain, where the discussion about the role of nuclear power in a decarbonized and digitized electricity system remains very much alive.