The current path to achieve the goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 does not include nuclear energy, according to Environment Minister Peng Chi-ming (彭啓明) in a Legislature meeting on Monday. However, he said that though the cost of restarting nuclear power plants is high, new nuclear technology may be possible after 2030 if there is demand.
Recent support for nuclear power from both President Lai Ching-te’s (賴清德) administration and opposition parties continues to spark discussion.
At the meeting, Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC) Chairperson Chen Min-jen (陳明真) proposed that if the nuclear-free homeland policy is postponed for 10 years, electricity supply pressure can be reduced. Peng agreed that nuclear energy could be conducive to increasing power resources and carbon reduction. However, he said that according to the International Energy Agency, restarting a nuclear power unit starts at about NT$50 billion (US$1.54 billion), and based on Japan's experience, takes 5 to 10 years. Peng also pointed out that because no environmental impact assessment regulations were in place when power plants were built in the past, restarting them would involve NSC’s detailed management and inspections.