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Taipower calls off plan to build power station in Changhua

State-run Taiwan Power Co (Taipower, 台電) suspended a plan to build a coal-fired power station in Changhua County after a government panel recommended dropping the project because of pollution concerns.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs, which oversees Taipower, sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) last week withdrawing the project after the EPA expressed concern that the plan would boost carbon dioxide emissions, Taipower spokesperson Huang Huei-yu (黃惠予) said yesterday.

"We'll wait for a clearer national energy policy," Huang said by telephone yesterday. "Hopefully we'll resubmit a proposal next year."

A revised project may be different from the previous in terms of size or the fuel to be used, Huang said. The original plan was stalled by the environmental impact assessment, she said.

A Cabinet economy and finance committee is mapping out the nation's industry development policy, which includes energy policy, and Taipower will conform to the policy, said Clint Chou (周義岳), a Taipower public relations officer.

The company had planned to start constructing the coal plant in Changhua in 2005. The economics ministry said in June 2005 that it wanted coal-fired power plants to account for as much as 50 percent of installed capacity by 2025. That compares with 33 percent as of April, according to Taipower's Web site.

The delay would not impact on the electricity supply, as several old plants would be revamped, Chou said. Total capacity would be able to supply demand through 2011, he said.

Additional reporting by Jessie Ho
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