TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan plans to implement a carbon fee starting in 2025. The minister of environment stated on Thursday (Oct. 24) that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC, 台積電) could pay over NT$1 billion, making it the largest contributor.
The Ministry of Environment (MOENV, 環境部) revealed the carbon fee rates on Oct. 21, set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2025. The standard rate is NT$300 per ton of carbon dioxide equivalent, while businesses can qualify for discounted rates of NT$100 or NT$50 per ton if they submit voluntary reduction plans.
During a radio interview, Minister Peng Chi-ming (彭啟明) highlighted that TSMC's annual emissions exceed 10 million tons, translating to an estimated NT$1 billion in fees under the NT$100 discount rate, a relatively small amount compared to its annual revenue. He also mentioned that Taiwan Power Company (台電) and CPC Corporation (中油) will each contribute about NT$500 million.
In response to some construction firms claiming since last year that the carbon fee could spike housing prices by 10%, Peng countered this, stating that any deliberate price hikes due to the carbon fee could be reported to the ministry's hotline, as the fee's impact on housing prices is calculated to be around 0.2%.