Environmental protection authorities will from next month tax petrochemical companies to gather funds to clean up soil and underground water pollution, it was reported yesterday.
The tax has been fiercely criticized by the petrochemical industry, with critics saying it will be a heavy burden amid the global economic slump.
Funds collected from the tax would mainly be used to improve pollution control measures at some 200 illegal waste dumping sites around the country, a local Chinese-language newspaper reported.
The rate had not yet been finalized but about 160 petrochemical materials were expected to charged. Imported crude oil could be taxed NT$11 per tonne, the paper said.
The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) and industry representatives were due to meet Wednesday to finalize the rate.
The EPA hopes to collect NT$150 million before the year's end and NT$700 million next year.
It hopes to collect NT$30 billion in 20 years, the paper said.
The special fee was approved by the legislature in February but the EPA has been reluctant to impose it because of industry opposition.
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