Amendment to Nuclear Regulation Act Passed　Reinforcing Nuclear Safety as the Highest Priority

On May 13th, the Legislative Yuan passed the amendment to Article 6 of the Nuclear Reactor Facilities Regulation Act. This amendment provides a legal basis for nuclear power plants to apply for life extension or reactivation. However, further steps are required, including the amendment of implementation regulations and relevant nuclear safety inspection requirements by the competent authority. Only then can Taipower proceed with evaluations. The current operating licenses remain valid for 40 years, meaning power plants must still shut down upon license expiration.

Unlike traditional hydro or thermal power plants, which cease operation simply by stopping the flow of water or fuel input, nuclear power involves a sustained chain reaction once the nuclear fuel is activated. This requires intervention from external equipment such as control rods and cooling systems to maintain a stable and controllable nuclear reaction to ensure safety. The operating license for Unit 2 of the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant (Nuclear Power Plant No. 3) will expire on May 17. All equipment must undergo safety assessments. If replacements are needed, procurement must be carried out, and applications and nuclear safety reviews must be conducted in accordance with regulations to ensure nuclear safety as the top priority for nuclear power use. Under the three major prerequisites—nuclear safety, manageable nuclear waste, and social consensus—this Ministry of Economic Affairs will ensure that Taipower complies with all relevant legal requirements.

Since the nuclear power plant has been in operation for many years, Taipower must conduct a comprehensive assessment in accordance with international standards. This includes a full safety review of critical equipment and structural components, lifespan management of structures and equipment, equipment renewal and replacement, safety enhancement following the Fukushima incident, and seismic reinforcement assessments. Any re-operation plan must undergo review by international peers and nuclear safety regulatory bodies, and improvements must be made based on review feedback. Simply amending the law does not guarantee nuclear safety and does not reflect a responsible approach to the use of nuclear power.

Furthermore, whether a nuclear plant can actually be granted an extension or restarted must also take into account nuclear waste management and public consensus. Social dialogue remains a crucial part of this process. It is vital that all political parties work together on the different stages of nuclear waste disposal. For instance, in 2012, the MOEA legally selected two candidate sites for low-level radioactive waste disposal, but the local governments refused to facilitate the referenda, halting further progress. On May 10, 2024, the MOEA announced the establishment guidelines for the Office for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste to develop legislation concerning high-level radioactive waste, and is actively engaging with NGOs and other groups concerned about waste disposal. It is hoped that all parties, central and local governments, and the public can work together to face the issue of nuclear waste.

In response to the expiration of the operating license for Maanshan Nuclear Plant Unit 2, the MOEA has already instructed Taipower to prepare various measures to ensure electricity supply and demand. This year, large-scale gas-fired units will gradually come online, including Datan Unit 7, Hsinta New Units 1 and 2, and Taichung New Unit 1, with a total installed capacity of 4.8 million kilowatts—far exceeding the 950,000 kilowatts from Nuclear Plant No. 3 Unit 2—ensuring the electricity needs of the public will be met.