TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ministry of Environment (MOEN, 環境部) announced on Friday (Dec. 19) that all carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects, regardless of size, must undergo environmental impact assessments. The ministry aims to prevent potential leaks and ensure geological safety and groundwater protection through these evaluations.
The National Development Council (NDC, 國發會) collaborated with eight ministries in December 2022 to unveil 12 key strategies aimed at achieving carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) targets of 1.76 million to 4.6 million tons by 2030. The MOEN plans to establish comprehensive regulations for CCS, including policy and case evaluations and management guidelines, and intends to finalize these by the end of the year.
Hsu Shu-chih (徐淑芷), Director of the Department of Environmental Protection (環境保護司), emphasized that CCS is a crucial measure for achieving national greenhouse gas reduction goals, and it has been included in the carbon reduction flagship program.
The ministry has also announced a draft amendment to the "Standards for Determining Specific Items and Scope of Environmental Impact Assessments for Development Activities" (開發行為應實施環境影響評估細目及範圍認定標準). This amendment will incorporate CCS projects into environmental assessment regulations and tighten solar power evaluations.