Taichung power plant hits gas milestone on path to 2034 coal-free goal

Taichung, Sept. 4 (CNA) Two new gas-fired units at the Taichung Power Plant reached full-load capacity on Friday, keeping them on track for commercial operation as Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) reiterated a pledge to phase out coal-fired units at the facility by 2034.

Cho reaffirmed the 2034 pledge during an inspection of the power plant, which operates 10 coal-fired units and has long been criticized as a major source of pollution in Taiwan.

The inspection was organized by state-run Taiwan Power Co. (Taipower) to witness the two new gas-fired units reaching full capacity for the first time. The company said the milestone demonstrates its readiness to transition from testing to commercial operations

Taipower expects the No. 1 gas unit to enter commercial operation by late September, followed by the No. 2 unit in March 2027. Dismantling of coal units 1 and 2 will begin in October 2027.

During the transition's second phase from 2031 to 2034, four additional gas units will come online in stages, with coal units 3 and 4 being demolished, and the remaining six decommissioned and placed on emergency standby, according to Taipower.

Government rules dictate that retired coal-fired units will operate only as backups during national crises or disasters. Routine testing to keep them operational will use under 100,000 metric tons of coal a year, less than 1 percent of current levels, according to the company.

Coal use at the facility reached 11 million metric tons in 2025, down from a peak of 18.39 million in 2014. This, along with cleaner equipment, helped slash pollution by nearly 80 percent, cutting emissions to 7,590 metric tons last year, according to its report.

Speaking to reporters during the inspection, Taichung City Deputy Secretary-General Lin Ku-lung (林谷隆) urged the central government to present a concrete plan for cutting coal use.

Taipower promised to cut coal consumption to 10.5 million metric tons this year, but its plan remains unclear in the run-up to 2031, when new gas-fired units are set to come online, Lin said.