Taiwan’s Nuclear-Free Homeland Initiative Paused! Public Vote on August 23 to Decide the Fate of the Nuclear Third Plant, Addressing Electricity Needs for the Semiconductor Industry.
Taiwan Considers Nuclear Power Restart in National Referendum
Located in Hengchun, Pingtung, the Nuclear Power Plant No. 3 has been shut down for less than a week, and the government is set to hold a national referendum on 8/23 regarding its possible restart. Coincidentally, Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, emphasized during an interview on 5/25 that Taiwan must invest in nuclear energy, stating that energy should not be stigmatized. As a key player in the global semiconductor industry, Taiwan faces critical issues in planning its future energy strategy due to tight electricity supply, a surge in power consumption from the semiconductor sector, and military threats from China.
National Referendum on 8/23 to Decide on Nuclear Power Plant No. 3 Restart
According to an announcement by the Central Election Commission on 5/23, a national referendum will be held on 8/23 with the following topic:
“Do you agree to continue the operation of Nuclear Power Plant No. 3 after the competent authority confirms that there are no safety concerns?”
Nuclear Power Plant No. 3 was officially shut down on 5/17, and now, less than a week later, it may resume operations due to the referendum.
Jensen Huang Calls for Nuclear Energy Investment, Stigmatization of Energy Must End
During the AI Trends Summit organized by Zhong An Technology, Jensen Huang clearly stated that the biggest challenge for the AI industry in the next decade is the energy issue, emphasizing that:
“Taiwan absolutely must invest in nuclear energy; energy should not be stigmatized.”
In an interview with TVBS, he reiterated that the Taiwanese government needs to provide more energy. He pointed out that the semiconductor industry in Taiwan requires substantial electricity, which translates into local economic value and GDP. All of this needs “energy” to support the operation of AI infrastructure.
From Anti-Nuclear to Pro-Nuclear: Is There a Chance for Taiwan to Restart Nuclear Power?
It is understood that this referendum is driven by opposition parties in the Legislative Yuan, which advocate for retaining nuclear energy as a backup energy source under safety assurances, conflicting with the ruling party’s “2025 Non-Nuclear Homeland” policy.
Given the current situation, if this referendum passes, Taiwan’s energy policy could potentially undergo a complete reversal, embracing nuclear power once again.
Taiwan’s Previous Opposition to Nuclear Power Plant No. 4 Restart
In 2021, Taiwan also held a referendum on the restart of Nuclear Power Plant No. 4, which was narrowly rejected. However, as global energy prices have surged and electricity consumption has skyrocketed in recent years, coupled with the continuous expansion of major foundries like TSMC, public concern for energy stability has greatly increased, leading to a shift in perceptions regarding the “safety concerns” of nuclear energy.
Moreover, military risks are also a significant consideration. With China conducting ongoing military exercises against Taiwan, there is growing anxiety:
“If a war were to break out, would Taiwan have enough electricity? Can we rely on natural gas and imported energy to sustain us?”
These pressing issues have prompted many who were originally opposed to nuclear energy to reconsider its necessity.
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