Government officials yesterday dismissed as groundless a news report that state-run Taiwan Power Co (Taipower, 台電) was planning to procure electricity from China, stressing the importance of maintaining self-sufficiency in energy.
The government has never considered procuring electricity from China, State-owned Enterprise Commission chief executive Liu Ming-chung (劉明忠) told a press conference at the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus office.
The Chinese-language United Evening News reported on Monday that Taiwan could turn to China for electricity procurement after decommissioning its three existing nuclear power plants, a process set to begin in 2018 and scheduled to be completed in 2025.
Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times
The report said the Ministry of Economic Affairs had instructed Taipower to conduct a feasibility study on the construction of a submarine transmission cable from China to Taiwan.
Liu said the news report was “groundless.”
Wang Yunn-ming (王運銘), deputy director-general of the ministry’s Energy Bureau, said his office was surprised at the news report and was looking into the source of the report.
“It’s an issue involving energy security risks. We should be cautious about the issue,” Wang said.
Taipower president Chu Wen-chen (朱文成) said that procuring electricity from China would not be a cost-effective solution.
As Taiwan uses 60Hz alternating current, while China uses 50Hz, the two sides would have to establish energy conversion stations, which would be expensive, Chu said.
He added that the nation should ensure energy self-sufficiency to strengthen security.
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