Taiwan Power Co. (Taipower) on Thursday defended its decision to temporarily use two coal-fired generators at the Hsinta Power Plant in Kaohsiung, saying the action follows 2019 regulations and is being carried out transparently.
Taipower Chairman Tseng Wen-sheng explained that the No. 3 and No. 4 units are only switched on when the spinning reserve rate — a key measure of backup electricity supply — falls below 8 percent. This limited use is permitted for a six-month period that began in April. He said the units are expected to run only through the end of May and will be permanently shut down in December 2025 and 2026, respectively.
“This is not a secret operation,” Tseng said. “Real-time usage data is available to the public on our website.”
Taipower Vice President Tsai Chih-meng added that each of the two units is restricted to no more than 720 hours of operation per year. He said their recent activation was caused by an unexpected breakdown at the Hoping Power Plant in Hualien and scheduled maintenance at several other facilities.
Minister of Environment Peng Chi-ming backed Taipower’s explanation, saying the move aligns with environmental policies set in 2019. He also pointed out that most air pollution in Taiwan comes from vehicles, not from fixed sources like power plants.
The comments were made in response to criticism that the coal units were restarted because of power supply problems.
Despite the assurances, the Kaohsiung Environmental Protection Bureau said it has requested a full report from Taipower on the generators’ use. It also said it will continue to monitor any effects on air quality in the area.
The Hsinta Power Plant currently operates five gas-fired generators. Construction on three new gas units is about 87 percent complete but is slightly behind schedule.
