A massive blackout prompts questions about Taiwan’s energy policy

LARGE parts of Taiwan went black: roads were lit only by the headlights of the cars driving along them, and even the capital’s landmark skyscraper, Taipei 101, was in darkness. The emergency services were inundated with calls, many from people trapped in lifts. The giant power cut on August 15th saw nearly half of all households on the island lose electricity. Power was restored everywhere in about five hours. But the questions the blackout raised about the wisdom of the government’s promise to shut down nuclear power stations will linger much longer.