Taiwan's plan to restart its nuclear plants faces a new hold-up: the world is suddenly short of nuclear engineers, parts, and know-how, which is bad news for anyone hoping for a quick restart.

• Trump's backing for nuclear power and the huge electricity appetite of AI have revived the global nuclear market, so Taiwan now has to queue for help.
• Westinghouse, the original builder of Taiwan's third nuclear plant, is sitting on about 91 potential reactor orders worldwide and is stretched thin on staff, equipment, and suppliers.
• Taipower has secured Westinghouse's technical help for its own safety checks at the third plant, but that work is expected to take two years.
• The second plant should be quicker: its builder, GE, has fewer projects on its plate, and Taipower already holds fuller technical rights and documents for it.
• Westinghouse is now tight-fisted with its designs and software after China absorbed its technology and turned into a rival exporter.

Outlook: Restart timing will hinge less on Taiwan's own safety reviews than on whether foreign engineers and key parts show up on time.