TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan Power Company (Taipower, 台電) Chairman Tseng Wen-sheng (曾文生) rushed to Kaohsiung's Hsinta Power Plant (興達發電廠) early Wednesday (Sept. 10) following a dramatic fire the previous night. The blaze erupted from a natural gas leak at the critical power facility, with Tseng ruling out human error as the cause. The incident sparked immediate concerns about Taiwan's energy infrastructure stability as officials launched comprehensive investigations into the power plant emergency.
Taipower staff and contractors discovered the dangerous gas leak at 7:57 p.m. Tuesday, with flames erupting just eight minutes later at 8:05 p.m. The Kaohsiung City Government Fire Department (高雄市消防局) responded swiftly, arriving at 8:24 p.m. and successfully extinguishing the threatening blaze. Tseng acknowledged that nighttime conditions hampered initial assessments, with investigators planning comprehensive damage evaluation and leak location identification after sunrise Wednesday.
Tseng praised the immediate execution of emergency response protocols, emphasizing that swift action prevented any personnel injuries during the dangerous incident. The chairman pledged transparent communication with local residents once investigators confirm all details about the fire's circumstances and impact. Hsinta Power Plant Director Hung Kuei-chung (洪貴忠) and Taipower officials planned Wednesday morning briefings with local government representatives at the Yongan District Office to address community concerns.
Tseng confirmed that gas supplies were immediately shut off as a precautionary measure, with preliminary investigations pointing toward an external pipeline leak as the likely culprit. Technical teams prepared comprehensive investigations to determine the precise leak location and underlying circumstances that triggered the dangerous incident. Taiwan Power Company committed to providing regular public updates throughout the ongoing investigation process and facility recovery preparations. ◼