Taiwan’s nuclear operator Taipower said it shut down the 985-MW Kuosheng-1 nuclear power unit ahead of schedule today, with the unit expected to now enter its decommissioning stage.

Taipower said the unit has a licence to operate until the end of 2021, but because its spent fuel pool was almost full and local authorities in New Taipei had not “agreed” to a dry storage facility, the unit was unable to return to normal operation.