Taiwan shuts down its last nuclear reactor

Representational pic. Image Source: Unsplash

Taiwan has shut down its only nuclear power plant, as part of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's transition to other sources of energy.

The Saturday shutdown was in great part a result of an increased concern among the Taiwanese about nuclear safety, especially after the 2011 nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan.

Its transition plans to alternative energy source have, however, not found a universal backing, with industry players and opposition parties presaging unstable electricity supplies and surging costs.

Taiwan's energy authorities plan to focus more on thermoelectricity fuelled by liquefied natural gas.

The country aims to source 20 per cent of all its electricity from renewables such as wind and solar power next year.