Premier Lin Chuan today visited the Taichung Power Plant to inspect electricity supply operations and to thank the frontline staff there for acting quickly to restore electricity during a recent power failure.
Electricity is the lifeline of human civilization, and without electricity there can be no civilization—no robots, internet, or internet of things, the premier said. In an imperfect world, power generation can have an impact on the environment, but the government will do all it can to mitigate the effects.
To achieve the administration's goal of making Taiwan nuclear-free by 2025, the Taiwan Power Co. (Taipower) has instituted a number of structural changes, the premier said. For instance, it will not reactivate reactors at Taiwan's first and second nuclear power plants without the Legislature's approval. It will also decrease the output of coal-fired power generation in the winter when air pollution problems are more pronounced. Taipower also plans to add new power generators to cope with growing challenges and demands.
When it comes to transforming the nation's energy portfolio, the government faces many expectations from all sectors of society. People want the government to end nuclear energy production, reduce coal-fired power, resolve issues of natural gas imports, and address air pollution problems. The staff at Taipower have therefore been given much responsibility, the premier said.
While many projects have met with public resistance, obstruction and environmental impact assessment problems, the staff has persevered in their work, Premier Lin said. This summer, for instance, Taipower was able to maintain the nation's power reserves at 5 to 7 percent before a typhoon unfortunately toppled a transmission tower at the Ho-Ping Power Plant. Although Ho-Ping is a privately owned power company, Taipower nevertheless provided assistance because of its longstanding mission to ensure that the nation's power supply remains uninterrupted.
The premier also commended the staff at the Taichung Power Plant for repairing a broken furnace pipe recently and heading off another crisis. The problem was discovered early and the furnace temperature quickly lowered for repairs to be carried out.