CPC: 4 Oil Tankers Gradually Transporting Crude, First Expected to Arrive in Taiwan Early May, No Impact on Dispatch
Amid transport disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz due to the Middle East situation, CPC has secured alternative shipping routes, with four oil tankers currently transporting crude. The first shipment is expected to arrive in Taiwan in early May, with no immediate impact on current supply.
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- 📰 Published: April 13, 2026 at 14:49
- 🔍 Collected: April 13, 2026 at 15:01 (12 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 13, 2026 at 15:39 (37 min after Collected)
Middle East War Key News
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Pan Tzu-tzu, Taipei, 13th) The US-Iran conflict has caused transportation disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, and CPC Corporation has coordinated alternative transportation routes, with 4 oil tankers gradually departing. CPC Chairman Fang Jen-ren stated that the oil tankers are sailing from the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the first is expected to arrive in Taiwan in early May; as for variables such as Iran bombing oil pipelines, they have not yet affected CPC's dispatch.
Fang Jen-ren previously stated that starting from April, 4 oil tankers, totaling 8 million barrels of crude oil, would be transported from the Red Sea, which would help alleviate domestic energy pressure.
The Legislative Yuan's Finance Committee today invited relevant ministries and agencies to conduct a special report on 'The Mid-to-Long-Term Impact of the Middle East Conflict on Energy, Commodity Prices, Livelihoods, and Medical Material Supply, and Market Order, as well as the Implementation of the Special Budget for Strengthening Economic and Social and Livelihood National Security Resilience in Response to International Situations.' Kuomintang legislator Lai Shih-bao expressed concern about energy issues and inquired about the shipping progress of the aforementioned 4 oil tankers.
Fang Jen-ren explained that the first ship is expected to arrive in Taiwan in early May, and the subsequent three ships are estimated to arrive one per month. Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Lai Chien-hsin added that since the Middle East war, the Ministry of Economic Affairs has held daily meetings and assumed a scenario where the Strait of Hormuz is completely closed. They have coordinated from other spot markets and non-Middle Eastern regions, and operations are currently normal, with natural gas also docking in port in the past two days.
Lai Shih-bao pointed out that the US produces oil and gas, and asked if there were plans to increase the proportion of imports from the US. Lai Chien-hsin stated that relevant arrangements are being made, and the current import proportion from the US is about 60%. However, US oil is low-sulfur crude oil, and petroleum production requires blending high-sulfur and low-sulfur crude oil, so relevant investigations need to be conducted.
Lai Shih-bao then asked if the Ministry of Economic Affairs and CPC would continue to adopt a price freeze mechanism for domestic oil prices as international oil prices continue to rise. Lai Chien-hsin said that they continue to monitor oil price changes, but because price fluctuations are very drastic, there is a fixed mechanism operating weekly; also, because the Executive Yuan has introduced price stabilization measures, Taiwan has not experienced large price fluctuations like other countries.
Lai Chien-hsin emphasized that domestic petroleum and natural gas currently exceed the statutory safety reserves, with petroleum for 90 days and natural gas for 11 days. "We all exceed the requirements."
Lai Shih-bao also inquired about the timeline for restarting nuclear power. He asked if operation in 2027 was an optimistic scenario. Taipower General Manager Wang Yao-ting explained that it still requires review by the Nuclear Safety Council, and the review period is not controllable. (Editors: Pan Yi-ching, Lin Chia-hsun) 1150413
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Pan Tzu-tzu, Taipei, 13th) The US-Iran conflict has caused transportation disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, and CPC Corporation has coordinated alternative transportation routes, with 4 oil tankers gradually departing. CPC Chairman Fang Jen-ren stated that the oil tankers are sailing from the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the first is expected to arrive in Taiwan in early May; as for variables such as Iran bombing oil pipelines, they have not yet affected CPC's dispatch.
Fang Jen-ren previously stated that starting from April, 4 oil tankers, totaling 8 million barrels of crude oil, would be transported from the Red Sea, which would help alleviate domestic energy pressure.
The Legislative Yuan's Finance Committee today invited relevant ministries and agencies to conduct a special report on 'The Mid-to-Long-Term Impact of the Middle East Conflict on Energy, Commodity Prices, Livelihoods, and Medical Material Supply, and Market Order, as well as the Implementation of the Special Budget for Strengthening Economic and Social and Livelihood National Security Resilience in Response to International Situations.' Kuomintang legislator Lai Shih-bao expressed concern about energy issues and inquired about the shipping progress of the aforementioned 4 oil tankers.
Fang Jen-ren explained that the first ship is expected to arrive in Taiwan in early May, and the subsequent three ships are estimated to arrive one per month. Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Lai Chien-hsin added that since the Middle East war, the Ministry of Economic Affairs has held daily meetings and assumed a scenario where the Strait of Hormuz is completely closed. They have coordinated from other spot markets and non-Middle Eastern regions, and operations are currently normal, with natural gas also docking in port in the past two days.
Lai Shih-bao pointed out that the US produces oil and gas, and asked if there were plans to increase the proportion of imports from the US. Lai Chien-hsin stated that relevant arrangements are being made, and the current import proportion from the US is about 60%. However, US oil is low-sulfur crude oil, and petroleum production requires blending high-sulfur and low-sulfur crude oil, so relevant investigations need to be conducted.
Lai Shih-bao then asked if the Ministry of Economic Affairs and CPC would continue to adopt a price freeze mechanism for domestic oil prices as international oil prices continue to rise. Lai Chien-hsin said that they continue to monitor oil price changes, but because price fluctuations are very drastic, there is a fixed mechanism operating weekly; also, because the Executive Yuan has introduced price stabilization measures, Taiwan has not experienced large price fluctuations like other countries.
Lai Chien-hsin emphasized that domestic petroleum and natural gas currently exceed the statutory safety reserves, with petroleum for 90 days and natural gas for 11 days. "We all exceed the requirements."
Lai Shih-bao also inquired about the timeline for restarting nuclear power. He asked if operation in 2027 was an optimistic scenario. Taipower General Manager Wang Yao-ting explained that it still requires review by the Nuclear Safety Council, and the review period is not controllable. (Editors: Pan Yi-ching, Lin Chia-hsun) 1150413