Taiwan receives LNG shipments Tuesday despite PLA drills

Taipei, Dec. 30 (CNA) 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.

Amid concerns over a possible blockade, Taipower Chairman Tseng Wen-sheng (曾文生) told reporters that the company had emergency measures in place to respond to military drills and it was not the first time China had staged such exercises around Taiwan.

Tseng said two of CPC Corp., Taiwan's ships delivered LNG to Taiwan as planned on Tuesday morning, referring to the state-owned petroleum and natural gas company.

Echoing Tseng, Taipower spokesperson Huang Mei-lien (黃美蓮) said her company has communicated closely with CPC to make sure Taipower would receive LNG as planned.

As for coal reserves, Huang said Taipower has a reserve of up to 40 days, well above the legally required 30 days.

Since it is winter, Tseng said, Taipower's operational reserves, known as "percent operating reserves (POR) of today" on Taipower's website, have recently surpassed 10 percent.

The POR indicates the company's ability to supply extra electricity in the event of an unexpected loss of supply or a sudden surge in power consumption.

A POR of 10 percent or higher is deemed "adequate," as it is the highest level on the five-tier system listed on Taipower's website.

Separately, Taoyuan International Airport Corp. (TIAC), which operates Taiwan's busiest airport, reported that as of 11 a.m., most international flights took off and landed at the airport normally.

To counter possible delays caused to flights by the military exercises, TIAC said it has launched emergency response mechanisms to make sure flights operate smoothly and safely.

Three leading Taiwanese carriers -- China Airlines, EVA Airways and Starlux Airlines -- said their flights were operating "normally."