Peter Kurz Warns Taiwan of Energy Risks, Backs Fusion Push

Taiwan’s heavy reliance on imported fuel and the semiconductor sector’s dominance of capital, talent and electricity have created twin vulnerabilities, according to Peter Kurz, chairman of Ju Jie Clean Energy. He likened the concentration of resources in chipmaking to “Dutch disease,” warning that an energy disruption could quickly become a national-security crisis. Diversifying supply is therefore critical for an island with limited domestic reserves and an economy anchored by power-intensive advanced manufacturing.

In his latest remarks, Kurz said Taiwan’s natural-gas inventories would last only about two weeks, underscoring its exposure if maritime supply lines were interrupted. He urged policymakers to broaden the energy mix while investing in nuclear fusion, arguing that fusion and semiconductor development share capabilities in precision engineering, materials and complex manufacturing. Kurz said those strengths could help Taiwan turn an energy liability into a globally competitive industry, though no commercial deployment timetable or investment figure was disclosed.