New Power Party (NPP) lawmakers yesterday called on Taiwan Power Co (Taipower) to cease development of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving station off the coast of Waimushan (外木山) in Keelung.
The land reclamation project would greatly affect marine life and the livelihoods of fishers in the area, NPP Legislator Chen Jiau-hua (陳椒華) told a news conference at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei.
Despite far-ranging consequences, Taipower has failed to provide its own comprehensive environmental assessment plans, Chen said.
Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei Times
The necessity of reclaiming 18.6 hectares of land for the receiving station is questionable, NPP Legislator Chiu Hsien-chih (邱顯智) said.
The absence of experts on environmental and maritime ecology on the environmental assessment committee, which is to review the reclamation project on Tuesday, is concerning, he said, adding that most of the members are architectural experts.
The viability of the receiving station — which is scheduled to be completed in 2032 — is questionable, especially in light of a government pledge to achieve zero net emissions by 2050, Chiu said.
Taipower’s insistence on using a Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) as a stand-in service until a storage area is built on the reclaimed area is a demonstration of its obstinate refusal to consider how to minimize its environmental impact, independent Keelung City Councilor Wang Hsing-chih (王醒之) said.
The company’s plans are incomprehensible and a death sentence on the diverse maritime ecology off the coast of Waimushan, which has existed for more than 10,000 years, NPP Keelung City Councilor Chen Wei-chung (陳薇仲) said.
All this only to create a temporary storage for natural gas, she added.
Chen Wei-chung tendered a petition with 2,000 signatures, on behalf of Keelung residents, to Ministry of Economic Affairs and Environmental Protection Administration officials at the news conference.
Ocean Affairs Council official Ko Yung-chuan (柯勇全) promised to forward their concerns to the committee meeting on Tuesday, adding that the agency would recommend an expert on coral research if needed.
Ministry representative Chen Ching-sheng (陳景生) also pledged that the ministry would assess the viability of using FSRUs.
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
A fourth public debate was held today about restarting the recently decommissioned Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant, ahead of a referendum on the controversial issue to be held in less than two weeks. A referendum on Aug. 23 is to ask voters if they agree that “the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant should continue operations upon approval by the competent authority and confirmation that there are no safety concerns.” Anyone over 18 years of age can vote in the referendum. The vote comes just three months after its final reactor shut down, officially making Taiwan nuclear-free. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) represented
RSS