The Legislature’s Economics Committee convened on Wednesday to examine the business budgets of Taipower and the Taiwan Water Corporation.
During the inquiry session, KMT Legislator Hsieh Yi-fong (謝衣鳳) highlighted that the United States has announced its intention to double nuclear power capacity, targeting an increase of 200 GW by 2050. She pressed Economics Minister J.W. Kuo (郭智輝) on the ministry’s policy regarding nuclear energy.
In response, Kuo noted that Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) had conveyed an open attitude toward new nuclear technologies in an interview with foreign media. Kuo then laid out three core principles for nuclear energy development: safety, waste management, and public consensus. He stressed that waste management remains the primary challenge and called for joint efforts to address it.
In a recent interview, Kuo mentioned that many experts believe Taiwan has the capability to manage nuclear waste. He welcomed suggestions and relevant information on feasible solutions, provided they align with public consensus and safety standards.
Kuo reiterated that Taiwan's ultimate objective is achieving net-zero carbon emissions. He emphasized that since nuclear power contributes less than 3% to Taiwan’s energy production, the priority should be on decarbonizing the remaining 97% of the power supply.