TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant’s Unit 1 reactor in Hengchun will be decommissioned in July, sparking concerns about Taiwan’s power supply.

The Legislative Yuan’s Education and Culture Committee invited Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) Vice Minister Lin Chuan-neng (林全能) and Nuclear Safety Commission Chair Chen Tung-yang (陳東陽) to report on the status of nuclear power and sustainable energy in Taiwan on Wednesday (May 29), per CNA.

Legislator Hung Meng-kai (洪孟楷) raised concerns about future power planning. In response, Lin said the power demand plan is revised annually. After the shutdown of Unit 1 on July 27, new power sources are planned, he added.

“We have already planned for the necessary power supplements, which include not only thermal power but also renewable energy sources,” Lin said, per RTI. “This includes Datan Power Plant Units 7 and 9, as well as solar and thermal power generation.”

Recently, government officials and industry leaders have shown a more optimistic stance on nuclear energy, CNA reported. Legislator Ko Ju-chun (葛如鈞) questioned the government’s seemingly ambivalent attitude towards nuclear energy, asking whether the priority should be stable economic development or achieving a “nuclear-free homeland.”

Lin said the MOEA prioritizes economic development but considers many factors. Chen added that an independent safety regulatory agency should not have a biased stance.