Taipower to restart coal power plant in Yunlin

The Ministry of Economic Affairs has instructed Taipower to restart two coal-fired units at the privately owned Mailiao Power Plant in Yunlin County in May, citing concerns over liquefied natural gas supply disruptions linked to the Iran war.

Mailiao Power Plant Units 1 and 3 are expected to resume operations for an initial three-month period, with a possible extension depending on developments in the Middle East. Addressing concerns over air pollution from increased coal-fired generation, Taipower said the short-term operations will not exceed last year’s total coal consumption.

Senior officials from the ministry, Taipower, and the Mailiao Power Plant recently met with the Yunlin County Government to discuss the restart. Taipower said each unit has a generating capacity of 500,000 kilowatts.

Both units hold valid operating permits and power licenses and are legally allowed to operate. They have also been equipped with environmental protection measures, including wet electrostatic precipitators, to reduce emissions. However, the original contract between Taipower and the plant’s operator, Formosa Plastics, has expired.

Yunlin County Magistrate Chang Li-shan (張麗善) said Monday that the ministry proposed allowing the two units to operate for an additional three months. She said that while the units’ permits remain valid and regional tensions have affected national energy supply, the county government has a responsibility to protect public health and prevent air pollution.

Chang said the county agreed to conditionally cooperate with the restart based on national needs, with stricter end-of-pipe environmental controls during the three months. She added that ongoing tensions involving Iran highlight the need to review Taiwan’s overall energy policy. Chang said she hopes the central government will consider restarting nuclear power to ensure long-term energy stability for households and industry.

At a Cabinet press conference on Monday on the impact of the Iran war on energy supply, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) instructed the economics ministry to coordinate with CPC Corp. and Formosa Plastics to strengthen procurement of crude and light crude oil to stabilize prices. The transport ministry has also initiated subsidies for aviation fuel in accordance with existing regulations.

National Development Council Chair Yeh Chun-hsien (葉俊顯) said CPC Corp. and Formosa Plastics have increased crude oil purchases for shipments between April and July, including rerouting some shipments through the Red Sea. 

Taipower said LNG and domestic gas supplies remain sufficient for now, and all generating units are operating according to schedule. However, the ongoing conflict involving Iran continues to disrupt global energy supplies. Delays in resuming production may affect major international natural gas facilities, increasing risks to LNG supply.

Yeh said countries such as Japan, South Korea, Germany, Thailand, and the Philippines have taken emergency measures to adjust their power generation mix, increasing coal-fired output to mitigate natural gas supply risks and rising energy costs.

Given the uncertainty surrounding the conflict, Taipower said the temporary increase in coal-fired generation is intended to enhance flexibility in LNG dispatching and safeguard Taiwan’s energy security.