Taiwan Shuts Last Nuclear Reactor as Energy Debate Heats Up

Taiwan started to shut its final nuclear reactor on Saturday as a 40-year operating license expired, in a move that could threaten the island’s energy security and climate goals.

The load-shedding of the final reactor began from 1 p.m. local time and the system will be disconnected at about 10 p.m. before it’s safely shut down around midnight, according to a statement from the state-utility Taiwan Power Co. It added that the last reactor at Maanshan nuclear plant accounted for about 3% of Taiwan’s total power generation.