Environmental groups split over Cabinet plan to relocate LNG project
05/04/2021 10:20 PM
Environmental groups protest outside the Executive Yuan in Taipei on Monday. CNA photo May 3, 2021
Taipei, May 4 (CNA) A government proposal to relocate a controversial liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, moving it further away from the algae reefs on Taiwan s north coast, drew mixed responses from environmental groups Tuesday.
Responding to the Cabinet s relocation plan that was released Monday, some environmental groups said it was the best compromise, while others panned it as ineffective.
Rescue Datan s Algal Reefs Alliance, which initiated a national referendum on the project, said the government had failed to explore all possible alternatives to the current LNG terminal, which is being built off the coast of Datan Borough in Taoyuan.
Environmental groups split on new LNG plan
By Lee Hsin-fang, Chien Hui-ju and Jake Chung / Staff reporters, with staff writer
Environmental groups are split over an Executive Yuan proposal to move a proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal an additional 455m from the coast of Datan Borough (大潭) in Taoyuan’s Guanyin District (觀音) to reduce its impact on algal reefs.
The planned terminal has sparked an outcry from environmentalists, who fear that it would damage the algal reefs in the area. They have successfully petitioned for a referendum to block the project.
However, support for the referendum has wavered and environmental advocates are divided on the issue, Taiwan Citizen Participation Association director-general Ho Tsung-hsun (何宗勳) said.
Ministry pushes LNG project farther offshore
‘NO LONGER AFFECTED’: With the LNG facility an additional 455m away from shore, the project would no longer require dredging the ocean floor, the ministry said
By Angelica Oung / Staff reporter
The Ministry of Economic Affairs yesterday announced that it would move a proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) project off Taoyuan farther from shore to “minimize any impact on algal reefs.”
In an effort to prevent the project from being blocked by a referendum, the ministry said that it had updated its proposal for the nation’s third LNG receiving terminal to move it another 455m from shore.