Mailiao Coal-Fired Unit to Restart for 3 Months, Minister of Economic Affairs States Taichung's Power Generation Will Be Reduced
Due to the uncertain outlook of the Middle East conflict, Taiwan Power Company plans to temporarily restart the Mailiao Power Plant's coal-fired units for three months starting late May. Economic Affairs Minister Kung Ming-hsin stated that this measure, aimed at enhancing power resilience, will lead to reduced electricity generation from Taichung's coal-fired units, ensuring that the total annual coal consumption does not exceed last year's levels. This move is intended to provide greater flexibility in natural gas dispatch.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 16, 2026 at 12:29
- 🔍 Collected: April 16, 2026 at 13:01 (31 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 16, 2026 at 13:10 (8 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Tseng Chih-yi, Taipei, April 16) Due to the uncertain prospects of the Middle East conflict, the Mailiao Power Plant's coal-fired units are expected to resume operation for three months from the end of May. Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-hsin stated today that this plan is to increase resilience, and when the Mailiao plant generates power, the generation volume of Taichung's coal-fired units will be reduced, promising that the total coal usage for the year will not exceed last year's.
With the ongoing Middle East conflict, Taipower plans to purchase power from the Mailiao units for a short period starting in May to assist CPC Corporation in increasing its flexibility for natural gas dispatch.
At the Legislative Yuan's Economic Committee today, Kung Ming-hsin and others were invited to report on the "Current Status, Construction Progress, Capacity Targets, Promotion Difficulties, Regulatory Obstacles, and Improvement Measures for Taiwan's Renewable Energy and Grid Resilience." During questioning, KMT legislator Yang Tsung-hsing expressed concern about the Mailiao coal-fired units resuming operation for three months.
Kung Ming-hsin stated that this plan is to increase resilience due to the war. After the units start in May, the output of Taichung's coal-fired units will be reduced, and the total coal usage for the year will not exceed last year's.
Yang Tsung-hsing asked if the coal-fired units would be reopened after three months if the war did not stop. Taipower General Manager Wang Yao-ting responded that since the development of the war is unknown, if the current situation does not worsen significantly, the addition of the Mailiao units is to increase flexibility to cope with variables in natural gas dispatch. He also noted that countries worldwide, including Germany and Japan, have reopened coal-fired units.
He further explained that war can have severe, moderate, or mild scenarios. Taipower's most important task is to ensure stable power supply, and it will respond according to global practices, "dispatching other energy sources as needed." When Yang Tsung-hsing pressed further, asking if this meant the coal-fired units would continue to operate, Wang Yao-ting replied that he could not say for sure, but given the current situation is not that dire, the outlook is optimistic.
Yang Tsung-hsing then asked if Taichung's coal-fired power plant would increase its output if the war continues. Wang Yao-ting responded that if the war continues and the situation remains stable without worsening, Taichung's coal-fired power plant will not increase its output. Kung Ming-hsin emphasized that Taipower's primary mission is stable power supply, with clear priorities. Under the condition of stable supply, natural gas and renewable energy are the main focus. "Under the current conditions, it should be okay," but future changes in the war will require continuous observation.
In response to KMT legislator Lu Yu-ling's questioning, Wang Yao-ting stated that Mailiao is an IPP unit, so a contractual relationship must be established first. At that time, Taichung's power generation will be reduced to allow Mailiao to generate power. Regarding whether this would affect Mailiao's "coal-to-gas" timeline, Kung Ming-hsin responded that there would be no problem as they are in different locations. Wu Chih-wei, acting director of the Energy Administration, added that the new construction is on different land and will continue to be monitored. (Editor: Lin Shu-yuan) 1150416
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(Central News Agency reporter Tseng Chih-yi, Taipei, April 16) Due to the uncertain prospects of the Middle East conflict, the Mailiao Power Plant's coal-fired units are expected to resume operation for three months from the end of May. Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-hsin stated today that this plan is to increase resilience, and when the Mailiao plant generates power, the generation volume of Taichung's coal-fired units will be reduced, promising that the total coal usage for the year will not exceed last year's.
With the ongoing Middle East conflict, Taipower plans to purchase power from the Mailiao units for a short period starting in May to assist CPC Corporation in increasing its flexibility for natural gas dispatch.
At the Legislative Yuan's Economic Committee today, Kung Ming-hsin and others were invited to report on the "Current Status, Construction Progress, Capacity Targets, Promotion Difficulties, Regulatory Obstacles, and Improvement Measures for Taiwan's Renewable Energy and Grid Resilience." During questioning, KMT legislator Yang Tsung-hsing expressed concern about the Mailiao coal-fired units resuming operation for three months.
Kung Ming-hsin stated that this plan is to increase resilience due to the war. After the units start in May, the output of Taichung's coal-fired units will be reduced, and the total coal usage for the year will not exceed last year's.
Yang Tsung-hsing asked if the coal-fired units would be reopened after three months if the war did not stop. Taipower General Manager Wang Yao-ting responded that since the development of the war is unknown, if the current situation does not worsen significantly, the addition of the Mailiao units is to increase flexibility to cope with variables in natural gas dispatch. He also noted that countries worldwide, including Germany and Japan, have reopened coal-fired units.
He further explained that war can have severe, moderate, or mild scenarios. Taipower's most important task is to ensure stable power supply, and it will respond according to global practices, "dispatching other energy sources as needed." When Yang Tsung-hsing pressed further, asking if this meant the coal-fired units would continue to operate, Wang Yao-ting replied that he could not say for sure, but given the current situation is not that dire, the outlook is optimistic.
Yang Tsung-hsing then asked if Taichung's coal-fired power plant would increase its output if the war continues. Wang Yao-ting responded that if the war continues and the situation remains stable without worsening, Taichung's coal-fired power plant will not increase its output. Kung Ming-hsin emphasized that Taipower's primary mission is stable power supply, with clear priorities. Under the condition of stable supply, natural gas and renewable energy are the main focus. "Under the current conditions, it should be okay," but future changes in the war will require continuous observation.
In response to KMT legislator Lu Yu-ling's questioning, Wang Yao-ting stated that Mailiao is an IPP unit, so a contractual relationship must be established first. At that time, Taichung's power generation will be reduced to allow Mailiao to generate power. Regarding whether this would affect Mailiao's "coal-to-gas" timeline, Kung Ming-hsin responded that there would be no problem as they are in different locations. Wu Chih-wei, acting director of the Energy Administration, added that the new construction is on different land and will continue to be monitored. (Editor: Lin Shu-yuan) 1150416
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Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, broadcast, transmitted, or used without authorization.