TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA, 經濟部), the government agency overseeing industrial and energy policies, voiced alarm Thursday (June 5) about potential consequences of a recent parliamentary mandate that threatens both electricity reliability and technology sector investments in the central industrial hub of Taichung. The controversial measure, approved Tuesday by opposition legislators from the Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨), Taiwan's main opposition party, and Taiwan People's Party (TPP, 民眾黨), a centrist political group, would force Taichung Power Plant (台中發電廠), one of the island's largest electricity generators, to implement annual coal consumption reductions with complete elimination targeted by 2028.
In its detailed response, the ministry emphasized that electricity consumption in Taichung, a critical manufacturing center, has consistently surpassed the local power plant's generation capability since 2019, with current 2024 figures showing the metropolitan area leads Taiwan's six special municipalities in power demand, necessitating the import of roughly 4.5 billion kilowatt-hours from neighboring regions. Officials underscored the administration's ongoing implementation of a comprehensive energy transformation strategy that prioritizes expansion of zero-emission renewable power sources while systematically substituting highly polluting coal with cleaner-burning natural gas to maintain reliable electricity delivery while simultaneously decreasing environmental contaminants.
Statistical evidence presented by the ministry documents the nation's energy transition progress, showing coal's contribution to the electricity mix has declined from 45.9% in 2016 to 39.2% in 2024, while natural gas generation has increased from 31.5% to 42.4% during the same period. Environmental improvements are reflected in the power sector's carbon emission factor reduction from 0.554 kgCO2e in 2016 to 0.474 kgCO2e in 2024. Air pollutants from thermal power facilities have plummeted from 107,000 metric tons in 2016 to just 34,000 metric tons in 2024, representing a substantial 70% reduction. The Taichung facility itself has achieved a record low coal consumption of 12.08 million metric tons in 2024, marking a decrease of more than 6 million metric tons compared to 2014 levels.
The ministry emphasized that government planners have carefully evaluated future electricity requirements driven by artificial intelligence applications, semiconductor manufacturing expansion, and electric vehicle adoption, incorporating these projections into comprehensive power infrastructure development strategies. Officials reaffirmed the administration's unwavering dedication to energy system transformation, with continued investment in non-carbon renewable energy sources and innovative technological solutions aligned with Taiwan's ambitious target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, a goal that parallels similar climate commitments made by major economies worldwide. ◼