Nuclear Safety Commission Chairman Chen Ming-chen: Nuclear Power Helps Stabilize Electricity Prices
In response to a query from KMT Legislator Lo Chih-chiang, Taiwan's Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC) Chairman Chen Ming-chen stated that nuclear power does contribute to the stability of electricity prices. Lo had argued that a non-nuclear policy would inevitably lead to power shortages, price hikes, and increased air pollution.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 12:01
- 🔍 Collected: April 22, 2026 at 12:31 (30 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 22, 2026 at 19:06 (6h 34m after Collected)
Central News Agency, Taipei, 22nd — KMT Legislator Lo Chih-chiang stated today that proposing to restart nuclear power plants is easy, but the actual restart process is a long road. He reiterated his long-held 'three prophecies' of a 'non-nuclear homeland': inevitable power shortages, inevitable electricity price hikes, and inevitable increases in air pollution. In response, Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC) Chairman Chen Ming-chen said that nuclear power does indeed help stabilize electricity prices.
The Education and Culture Committee of the Legislative Yuan invited Chen to report on 'The Current Status and Future Response of Radioactive Material Monitoring in Our Country's Maritime Areas' and to be available for questioning.
The NSC received Taipower's application for the renewal of the operating license for the Third Nuclear Power Plant and its restart plan documents on March 27th of this year. On April 8th, it confirmed the documents were complete and met application requirements, officially launching the substantive review process.
During his questioning, Lo Chih-chiang expressed concern about the progress. Kao Pin, head of the NSC's Nuclear Safety Regulation Division, stated that for the legally required document submission, Taipower has first submitted the restart plan in stages, with other documents to follow. The NSC has already begun the substantive review of the restart plan, and commissioners are successively providing their review opinions, which are being compiled. Taipower can begin personnel training, and the NSC will conduct on-site verifications. As for when the plant will be inspected on-site, Kao said that on-site verifications have already begun.
Lo pointed out that it took South Korea three years and they still haven't completed a nuclear plant restart. A U.S. plant that applied to resume operations in 2023 and had its review approved late last year also took two years. He asked how long the NSC estimates the review process will take and whether it's possible to get an approval and a conclusion within two years.
Kao responded that it involves the condition of equipment restoration and the response to review opinions. Foreign cases can be used as a reference, but there are not many, and they are handled on a case-by-case basis. Although the U.S. plant's review was approved, the unit is still in the preparation phase, and the on-site equipment recovery status still needs to be observed.
Lo said that proposing a nuclear restart is easy, but restoring it is incredibly difficult, and the process is a long road. For the past ten years, like a dog barking at a train, he has been telling everyone about the 'three prophecies' of a so-called 'non-nuclear homeland,' meaning inevitable power shortages, electricity price hikes, and air pollution increases. He asked if these have now come true, especially with the added electricity demand from AI. Chen Ming-chen replied that nuclear power does indeed contribute to the stability of electricity prices.
KMT Legislator Ko Chih-en stated that the NSC plays an important role, but it is currently a third-level agency. Premier Cho Jung-tai has also frankly stated that the number of second-level agencies is already saturated. However, in other countries, the committees of nuclear regulatory bodies are nominated by the president or prime minister and report directly to them. She questioned if the NSC's level is too low.
In response, Chen stated that upgrading involves the Organic Act of the Executive Yuan, and if an adjustment were made, it would be beneficial for international exchanges and talent cultivation. (Editor: Wan Shu-chang) 1150422
The Education and Culture Committee of the Legislative Yuan invited Chen to report on 'The Current Status and Future Response of Radioactive Material Monitoring in Our Country's Maritime Areas' and to be available for questioning.
The NSC received Taipower's application for the renewal of the operating license for the Third Nuclear Power Plant and its restart plan documents on March 27th of this year. On April 8th, it confirmed the documents were complete and met application requirements, officially launching the substantive review process.
During his questioning, Lo Chih-chiang expressed concern about the progress. Kao Pin, head of the NSC's Nuclear Safety Regulation Division, stated that for the legally required document submission, Taipower has first submitted the restart plan in stages, with other documents to follow. The NSC has already begun the substantive review of the restart plan, and commissioners are successively providing their review opinions, which are being compiled. Taipower can begin personnel training, and the NSC will conduct on-site verifications. As for when the plant will be inspected on-site, Kao said that on-site verifications have already begun.
Lo pointed out that it took South Korea three years and they still haven't completed a nuclear plant restart. A U.S. plant that applied to resume operations in 2023 and had its review approved late last year also took two years. He asked how long the NSC estimates the review process will take and whether it's possible to get an approval and a conclusion within two years.
Kao responded that it involves the condition of equipment restoration and the response to review opinions. Foreign cases can be used as a reference, but there are not many, and they are handled on a case-by-case basis. Although the U.S. plant's review was approved, the unit is still in the preparation phase, and the on-site equipment recovery status still needs to be observed.
Lo said that proposing a nuclear restart is easy, but restoring it is incredibly difficult, and the process is a long road. For the past ten years, like a dog barking at a train, he has been telling everyone about the 'three prophecies' of a so-called 'non-nuclear homeland,' meaning inevitable power shortages, electricity price hikes, and air pollution increases. He asked if these have now come true, especially with the added electricity demand from AI. Chen Ming-chen replied that nuclear power does indeed contribute to the stability of electricity prices.
KMT Legislator Ko Chih-en stated that the NSC plays an important role, but it is currently a third-level agency. Premier Cho Jung-tai has also frankly stated that the number of second-level agencies is already saturated. However, in other countries, the committees of nuclear regulatory bodies are nominated by the president or prime minister and report directly to them. She questioned if the NSC's level is too low.
In response, Chen stated that upgrading involves the Organic Act of the Executive Yuan, and if an adjustment were made, it would be beneficial for international exchanges and talent cultivation. (Editor: Wan Shu-chang) 1150422