TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Former Environmental Protection Administration (環保署) Director Chao Shao-kang (趙少康) on Friday (Nov. 1) criticized the Ministry of Environment (NOENV, 環境部) for approving a new gas unit project at the Taichung Power Plant (台中電廠).
Chao argued that the move conceals Taiwan's electricity shortage dilemma and contradicts global carbon reduction trends.
Chao pointed out that the approval undermines former Economic Minister Wang Mei-hua's (王美花) previous commitments, as gas units have increased while coal units remain unchanged.
He accused the MOENV of aligning entirely with the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA, 經濟部) and Taiwan Power Company's (台電) plans. Reflecting on his tenure, Chao emphasized the importance of maintaining environmental positions and urged colleagues to advocate firmly when faced with conflicts.
Chao further criticized the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP, 民進黨) hasty nuclear phase-out, which he claims has led to frequent power outages in Taiwan.
He warned that the future development of high-energy-consuming industries like semiconductors and AI would make emergency backup from thermal power plants a norm, impacting the health of residents in central and southern regions.