讀後心得

The domestic Nuclear Power Plant No. 1 and Nuclear Power Plant No. 2 have been decommissioned in recent years due to their legal 40-year operational limits. However, the ruling and opposition party legislators passed a proposal on March 31 during a Legislative Yuan meeting to extend the operational life of nuclear power plants to 60 years, sparking controversy. Taiwan is small and densely populated, and these nuclear power plants are located in fault zones; extending their operation is hasty and dangerous, potentially increasing the risk of a nuclear disaster. According to the latest polls, most people do not have a clear understanding of nuclear energy's actual contributions and misunderstand energy security. The Ministry of Economic Affairs stated that Taiwan does not have a power shortage, and future electricity growth can be met by other units; developing renewable energy is the long-term solution.

Due to operational limits reached after 40 years, the Nuclear Power Plants One and Two in Taiwan are being decommissioned. However, on March 31, legislators from both the Kuomintang and the Democratic Progressive Party passed a proposal in the Legislative Yuan's Education and Culture Committee through anonymous voting to relax the regulations on extending the operation of nuclear power plants, planning to extend the usage period of these plants to 60 years. Taiwan's land is limited, and the aging nuclear power plants are all located on fault lines. The Kuomintang and Democratic Progressive Party have ignored the risks associated with old nuclear power plants and the difficulties in handling nuclear waste, hastily amending the law to extend the operation of these plants. This move is not only unnecessary and unrealistic but may also expose Taiwan to nuclear disaster risks.

According to the latest poll from Academia Sinica earlier this year, over 80% of the public is unaware that the total proportion of nuclear power generation for 2024 will be below 10%. In reality, since the No. 1 unit of the Nuclear Power Plant Three was shut down at the end of July last year, the proportion of nuclear power generation has dropped to 3%. According to the timeline of the Nuclear Safety Commission, the No. 2 unit of Nuclear Power Plant Three will stop operating on May 17, at which point nuclear power will officially be zero. Nevertheless, due to the public overestimating the importance of nuclear power in energy security and autonomy, combined with insufficient awareness of the actual power generation conditions, and the myths surrounding nuclear power's role in carbon reduction and power shortages, discussions about "extending nuclear power operations" have resurfaced. In fact, the No. 2 unit of Nuclear Power Plant Three has been offline for 41 days for major repairs since last October, and its reserve capacity has maintained a stable level, proving that a "nuclear-free homeland" will not experience power shortages. Additionally, the Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs has publicly stated that after considering the impact of emerging technologies such as semiconductors and AI on electricity demand, the projected annual growth rate for electricity usage is 2.5%, with a net increase of 16.36 million kilowatts in large-scale units across the country from 2024 to 2032, exceeding the estimated growth in electricity demand, thus ensuring secure electricity supply.

According to data from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, there is no need to extend the operation of aging nuclear power plants in Taiwan, especially since these plants, operating for 40 years, were not subject to sufficient geological surveys and environmental impact assessments during their construction. If they are to continue operating, a detailed examination of their aging conditions must be conducted, along with assessments of their safety, environmental impact, and the costs of necessary improvements. The regulations regarding the extension of nuclear power operation periods are established according to international nuclear regulatory standards, aiming to ensure nuclear safety. However, the Kuomintang and Democratic Progressive Party have exploited their majority to amend regulations, proposing to extend the operation of nuclear reactors from 40 years to 60 years, which not only affects the rigor of nuclear safety laws but also increases the probability and risk of nuclear accidents.

Finally, it is important to remind everyone that Taiwan will not experience power shortages without nuclear power. The risks of nuclear energy are far more pronounced than those of other energy options. Developing nuclear power not only violates intergenerational justice but also threatens Taiwan's sustainable development. Promoting renewable energy development and energy conservation is the direction for the future, and Taiwan should bid farewell to nuclear power as soon as possible instead of continuing to rely on aging nuclear power plants.