Taipei: Taiwan Power Co. (Taipower) received liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments from overseas Tuesday morning, according to the state-owned power supplier, despite China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) staging large-scale exercises around Taiwan.
According to Focus Taiwan, amid concerns over a possible blockade, Taipower Chairman Tseng Wen-sheng assured reporters that the company had emergency measures in place to respond to military drills, noting it was not the first time China had staged such exercises around Taiwan. Tseng confirmed that two ships from CPC Corp., Taiwan’s state-owned petroleum and natural gas company, successfully delivered LNG to Taiwan as planned.
Echoing Tseng’s statements, Taipower spokesperson Huang Mei-lien emphasized the company’s close communication with CPC to ensure the timely receipt of LNG. Regarding coal reserves, Huang noted that Taipower boasts a reserve of up to 40 days, exceeding the legally required 30 days.
As winter sets in, Tseng highlighted that Taipower’s operational reserves, known as “percent operating reserves (POR) of today” on the company’s website, have recently surpassed 10 percent. The POR reflects the company’s capacity to provide extra electricity during unexpected supply disruptions or sudden spikes in power consumption. A POR of 10 percent or higher is considered “adequate,” marking the highest level on the five-tier system on Taipower’s website.
In a separate announcement, Taoyuan International Airport Corp. (TIAC), which manages Taiwan’s busiest airport, reported that as of 11 a.m., most international flights were taking off and landing without disruption. To mitigate potential delays due to the military exercises, TIAC has activated emergency response mechanisms to ensure the smooth and safe operation of flights. Leading Taiwanese carriers, including China Airlines, EVA Airways, and Starlux Airlines, confirmed that their flights were operating “normally.”
