TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Opponents of a coastal power plant development disrupted an environmental review meeting at the legislature on Wednesday where over 70 people had registered to speak.
One individual lay down in protest as supporters and opponents pushed and shouted over each other during the legislative committee meeting after TPP legislators raised a procedural issue, per CNA. The meeting was cut short before 10:30 a.m. as protestors occupied a podium and shouted for its adjournment.
The environment ministry expanded the meeting’s initial limit of 20 speakers to 51 after 72 registered. More than 80 people joined government officials and legislators at the meeting.
The meeting was held to review a Taiwan Power Company project converting Keelung’s Hsieh Ho coal and oil-fired power plant to natural gas. This includes plans to build a natural gas receiving station on the northern coastline.
Taipower says the project will provide far cleaner energy for north Taiwan. However, opponents say it will severely damage the natural environment and impact coastal communities.
On Tuesday, the Wild at Heart Legal Defense Association held a press conference and accused Taipower of presenting false pollution data, according to the Environmental Information Center. Association Chair Chen Hsien-cheng (陳憲政) said a study by a third party showed higher levels of pollution surrounding the site than Taipower reported and threatened to file a criminal suit.
At the Wednesday meeting, Chen Gau-tzu (陳昭姿) said the accusations were grounds to cancel environmental reviews and further meetings should be postponed until pollution levels are clarified. Keelung Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang (謝國樑) agreed with Chen and said the city's environment bureau should clarify the issue before meetings proceed.
TPP legislators including Huang Shan-shan (黃珊珊) and Chang Chi-kai (張啓楷) also appeared at the meeting in opposition. Chang said the project should be called off as shipping tests projected collisions and high-risk incidents.
The economic ministry responded to concerns about shipping safety after environmental groups raised them in January. It said subsequent testing by the National Ocean University found no shipping safety concerns and Taiwan’s National Association of Chinese Ship Owners was positive about the development.
