Mailiao to Retire Coal-fired Generators 麥寮電廠3燃煤機組除役後 擬轉型燃氣電廠

Formosa Plastics said it has submitted its plans to the authorities to transform its power plant in Mailiao into a gas-fired power plant. The Yunlin County Government and nearby residents are calling on the company to ensure safety and environmental protection.
 

Formosa Plastics' sixth naphtha cracker complex has been operating in Yunlin for more than 20 years but Mailiao Power Plant has 3 coal-fired generators that will be decommissioned in 2024 and 2025 respectively. To comply with the central government's zero-emission policy, the power plant will build two gas-fired generators for power generation. A LNG receiving terminal will also be built at Mailiao Industrial Port.
 

Tsao Ming, President, Formosa Petrochemical Company: “Nuclear energy will also be abolished. You already lack natural gas. The government policy is to use 50 percent natural gas, 30 percent coal, and 20 percent green energy. This is the government's policy. In Taiwan, if you are going to reduce carbon and air pollution, you need to find a way to change from coal to natural gas.”

Formosa Petrochemical stated that a public hearing was already held in Mailiao Township in August this year regarding its transition to LNG. An environmental impact study has also been submitted to the Environmental Protection Administration and the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Bureau of Energy and Industrial Development Bureau for review. The Yunlin County Government stated that Mailiao Power Plant's transformation must consider work safety and environmental protection.

Chang Li-shan, Magistrate, Yunlin County: “The entire energy transition is a very important matter. So there must be a comprehensive package and measures. The terminal location must be far away from the oil tanks and all safety zones for it to be built.”

Wu Ming-i, Mailiao Township Representative: “There are more or fewer accidents every year. The Mailiao area and environment are harsh. So the future maintenance of these pipelines is a local security issue.”

Local residents said that Mailiao Power Plant's plan to switch from coal to LNG can meet the residents' long-term desire to improve air quality. However, residents are also worried about pipeline accidents in the future. They hope that Mailiao Power Plant can ensure the safety of residents and complete its energy transition. 
 

六輕在雲林建廠營運20多年，但麥寮電廠有3部燃煤機組，分別會在2024年、2025年除役，為了配合中央零排放政策，將規劃轉型興建2部燃氣機組取代發電，也會在麥寮工業港，興建1座天然氣接收碼頭。

台塑石化公司總經理曹明提到:「也就是核能要廢止，你本來就是要（減）少天然氣，政府政策是要用50%天然氣、30%燃煤、20%綠能，這是政府政策，在台灣你要去減碳減少空汙，本來就是要想辦法燃煤改天然氣。」

台塑石化表示，此件轉型燃氣案，今年8月份在麥寮鄉辦理公聽會，環境影響說明書也提送經濟部能源局、工業局以及環保署審查中。對此，雲縣府則表示須在工安、環保兼顧下進行。

雲林縣縣長張麗善說:「整個能源轉型是非常重要的一件事情，所以必須要有周全配套跟所有措施，尤其是在設置的地點，必須遠離油槽，以及所有安全的地帶，才能來做整個（天然氣）接收站設置。」

麥寮鄉鄉民代表吳明宜表示:「每一年都多多少少有大小事故，然後麥寮地區因為地區比較嚴峻，所以針對這些管線未來的維修，其實也是在（關）乎地方安全問題。」

在地民代表示，麥寮電廠規劃由煤轉氣，可以符合民眾長期希望改善空汙的期盼，但地方也擔憂未來在管線安全恐再出現意外，希望麥寮電廠能確保地方民眾安全下，順利完成能源轉型。