President Lai says Taiwan power supply secure through 2032
TAIPEI (TVBS News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said Tuesday (June 2) that Taiwan's electricity supply will remain secure through 2032, addressing power concerns raised by Nvidia (輝達) CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) during the opening ceremony of COMPUTEX Taipei (台北國際電腦展). Lai said the government will continue advancing a second energy transition to meet growing demand.
Taiwan Power Company's (Taipower, 台灣電力公司) current reserve margin stands at approximately 21% and is expected to stay above 20% over the coming week, Lai said. Huang replied "Maybe" when asked about the government's pledge that Taiwan would face no power shortages before 2034 during a dinner with key Taiwanese supply chain partners, prompting public discussion about the island's energy security.
The presence of global technology leaders in Taiwan reflects confidence in the island's technological capabilities, industrial efficiency and democratic system, Lai said, noting that several have expanded their investments. He described maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as Taiwan's most responsible commitment to the global technology supply chain.
Lai pointed to expanded provisions under the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals (外國專業人才延攬及僱用條例), aimed at attracting international talent. The government's Western Taiwan Water Supply Corridor Pearl String Scheme (西部供水廊道水源相連珍珠串計畫) is nearing completion, linking water infrastructure along Taiwan's western corridor to strengthen interregional connectivity and enable more flexible allocation, he added.
Taiwan's stock market reached a total market capitalization of US$4.95 trillion (NT$155.3 trillion) last month, ranking fifth globally, Lai said. He attributed the performance to the combined efforts of the technology sector, manufacturing industry, small and medium-sized enterprises and the broader workforce. The government will continue expanding diversified water sources, including reclaimed water, desalinated seawater and groundwater, to mitigate the impact of extreme weather, he added.
COMPUTEX Taipei, Asia's largest technology trade show, runs through Friday with 1,500 companies participating this year. The annual event, organized by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (外貿協會) and Taipei Computer Association (台北市電腦商業同業公會), focuses on AI computing, robotics and next-generation communications under the theme "AI Together." ◼ (At time of reporting, US$1 equals approximately NT$31.36)