President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) has proposed a conditional restart of nuclear power, saying the island must reassess its energy policy amid sustained economic growth, surging AI-driven electricity demand, and rising global pressure to cut carbon emissions. SignalsSpeaking at a public event on March 21, Taiwan's (officially the Republic of China) President Lai said the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), after a careful assessment, had informed state-owned Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) that Nuclear Power Plants 2 and 3 meet the conditions for a restart, following Legislative Yuan amendments to the Nuclear Reactor Facilities Regulation Act. Lai stated that Taipower is now preparing the necessary procedures and is expected to submit a restart proposal to the Nuclear Safety Commission for review by the end of March.Lai emphasized that any restart would hinge on three key factors: the safety of extended reactor operations, solutions for nuclear waste management, and achieving public consensus through social dialogue.A day later, on March 22, Lai told reporters ahead of a National Scout Day event that Taiwan had successfully achieved its long-standing “nuclear-free homeland” goal after the shutdown of the No. 2 reactor at the Nuclear Power Plant 3 on May 17, 2025, per TTV.The “nuclear-free homeland” policy, enshrined in the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) charter, opposes the construction of new nuclear plants, promotes alternative energy development, and calls for the phased closure of existing nuclear facilities.However, Lai said Taiwan now faces a “new situation.” He cited surging electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence and data center development, new carbon reduction requirements such as the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and evolving geopolitical risks. He added that Taiwan’s energy strategy must ensure sufficient supply, lower carbon emissions, and greater resilience.Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) echoed these remarks on March 24, saying amendments to the law provide “an additional option” but any progress would strictly follow three principles: nuclear safety, viable nuclear waste solutions, and social consensus, according to NOWNEWS. He said the process is still at an early stage, with Taipower conducting self-assessments before submitting a restart plan to the MOEA and subsequently to regulators. Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant is Taiwan's last remaining nuclear facility and a focal point of the country's energy policy debate. (Taipower). Opposition opinionsTaiwan’s main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), held a press conference on March 23 calling on Lai and the DPP to admit errors in their previous energy policy and apologize to the public.KMT Caucus Deputy Secretary Hsu Yu-chen (許宇甄) said at the press conference that the “nuclear-free homeland” policy was driven by ideology rather than pragmatic assessment, leading to an imbalanced power structure, rising energy costs, and increased national security risks. She urged the government to revise relevant laws and remove anti-nuclear provisions.Taichung City Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕), widely seen as a potential future presidential candidate, welcomed the reconsideration of nuclear energy, calling it “the right direction,” per NOWNEWS. She said flawed energy policies have strained both household and industrial electricity supply and could pose national security concerns.Taipei City Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said the DPP should not “mislead the public” and should instead acknowledge mistakes and change course, according to NOWNEWS.The Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) called for greater transparency, urging authorities to submit a detailed restart white paper to the legislature. The party stated in its official Facebook page that the report should include timelines, costs, risks, nuclear waste handling plans, and measures to address any interim energy shortfalls before a potential restart in 2028.Strategic considerationsFormer Economy Minister Kuo Jyh-huei (郭智輝) wrote in an op-ed that restarting nuclear plants under the principles of safety, waste management, and public consensus is a “rational and necessary choice” as Taiwan navigates global technological competition and geopolitical uncertainty. According to TechNews, Taiwan’s Vice Minister of Economic Affairs, Lai Chien-hsin (賴建信), stated at an event on March 24 that the country’s electricity demand is expected to grow significantly by 2032. While demand from artificial intelligence is estimated to reach around 5 gigawatts (GW), Taiwan’s net power supply capacity is projected to increase by 12.2 GW by 2034, Lai said.Lee Min (李敏), a distinguished professor at National Tsing Hua University’s Institute of Nuclear Engineering and Science, noted that nuclear power offers stable generation costs unaffected by fluctuations in global fossil fuel prices. He warned that Taiwan remains vulnerable to supply disruptions, citing that 33.68% of its natural gas imports in 2022 came from Qatar. A disruption — such as a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz — could significantly impact supply and drive up costs, Lee added. Taiwan's Datan Power Plant forms part of the island's existing energy infrastructure as the government reassesses its long-term power mix. (Taipower) Allied concernsTaiwan’s energy challenges have also drawn attention from key allies.The American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan (AmCham Taiwan) said in a 2025 position paper that the island faces structural challenges in maintaining baseload power supply due to the phase-out of nuclear energy and reduced reliance on coal under decarbonization goals.In Washington, US Representative Pat Harrigan introduced the Taiwan Energy Security and Anti-Embargo Act of 2026 on March 10. The bill calls for Taiwan to maintain nuclear power as part of its energy mix and to adopt advanced nuclear technologies, including Generation III+ reactors and small modular reactors. It also proposes enhanced US-Taiwan cooperation on nuclear energy to boost energy security and technological development.