Taiwan and fossil gas
Taiwan has a population of around 23.2 million.[1] The country's GDP growth rate is forecasted at 3.06% in 2022 and expected to be 2.75% in 2023.[2]
Taiwan was the fifth largest LNG importer in 2021.[3] Under the current energy transition plan, it has set a goal to increase gas-fired power generation to 50% and renewable power to 20% by 2025 and to phase out nuclear power.[4] Taiwan plans to add around 10 GW of gas-fired capacity in order to meet this energy plan goal.[5]
Fossil Gas in the Fuel Mix
In 2021, total gas consumption in Taiwan was 26.1 bcm.[6] This included 99.58 % imported LNG and only 0.42 % indigenous supply. [6]
As per the Bureau of Energy, 77.32 % was consumed for power generation, including cogeneration. The remainder was consumed by the industrial sector (14.89%), residential sector (3.50 %), energy sector for own used (2.19 %), services sector (1.81 %), petroleum refineries (0.27 %), and agriculture (0.02 %). [6]
Taiwan's total electricity generation in 2021 was 290.9 TWh, of which, 128.9 TWh came from coal and 108.3 TWh from fossil gas[7]
In 2016, President Tsai Ing-wen presented an energy transition plan, which aimed at increasing fossil gas in Taiwan's power generation from 38% to 50% by 2025.[8][9] The plan also aimed for renewable energy to grow to 20%, from around 5-6%, and for coal to fall to 30% in 2025 from 47% of the then energy mix.[10]
The government has mandated that all industrial sectors are only allowed to use gas as fuel, which means the industrial sector will be a key driver of gas demand. [5]
As of 2022, Taiwan is not a party to the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement; however, it aims to achieve the net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050.[11]
Fossil Gas Production, Imports, and Transportation
Taiwan has very limited indigenous energy resources. In 2021, CPC's currently operating gas wells, located in and around Mt. Tiezhen, Quincao Lake, Jinshui, Chuhuangkeng, and Guantian, produced 0.11 bcm of gas.[12]
CPC has made efforts to explore potential areas in Taiwan. In 2018, CPC completed a 2D seismic survey of potential hydrocarbon structures near the Pingtung Plain.[13] In 2017, CPC, TOTAL, and CNOOC signed a Production Sharing Contract for the Taiyang Block in the South China Sea, and preliminary exploration is ongoing.[14] Approximately 8,131.6 km 2D seismic survey data was processed in 2021. A 2,500 square kilometers 3D seismic commitment is expected to be completed in 2022.[12]
In 2012, CPC and Husky Energy International Corp. formed a joint venture to search for oil and gas in the off-shore deep water Block Deep Water 1 (DW-1) in the Tainan basin. In 2021, 2D and 3D seismic survey data acquisition, data processing, and data description was completed while the joint research for common risk segment mapping is expected to be completed in 2022. [13][12]
In 2021, Taiwan imported 26.8 bcm of LNG.[7] Of this, 32.23% was supplied by Australia, 24.51% from Qatar, 9.74% from Russia, 9.06% from the United States, 7.38% from Papua New Guinea, 6.02% from Indonesia, and the remainder from Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Nigeria, and other countries.[6] CPC, the country's only LNG importer, has stated that it will need to import 29.6 mmtpa of LNG, or 40.8 bcm, in order to meet the government's policy of 50% fossil gas in the energy mix by 2025.[15]
As of 2022, Taiwan has two operating LNG terminals, Taichung LNG Terminal and Yungan LNG Terminal. There are plans to build three more terminals to meet the goal of a 50% share of gas in the power generation mix by 2025.[16]
CPC has also developed an extensive gas transmission and distribution network in western Taiwan, comprising approximately 2,221 kilometers of terrestrial trunk pipeline, eight supply centers, one transfer center, and 50 distribution stations.[17]
Government Agencies and other Key Players in Gas Sector
CPC Corporation is Taiwan's state-owned petroleum company and is the largest fossil gas supplier in the country. It is currently Taiwan's only LNG importer.[5]
TaiPower is state-controlled and is the single biggest fossil gas consumer in Taiwan. TaiPower is expected to start importing LNG by 2023.[18]
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ "Population of Taiwan shrinks by 0.99 percent - Taipei Times". 2022-10-08. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
- ↑ "Economic Growth Rate". National Statistics, Republic of China (Taiwan). 2022-04-19. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
- ↑ "TAIWAN NEEDS MORE LNG TO OFFSET COAL USE". Natural Gas World. Sep 13, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Renewable Energy Development Act - Article Content - Laws & Regulations Database of The Republic of China". law.moj.gov.tw. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Taiwan LNG demand immune to COVID-19; 2021 purchases to grow: CPC | S&P Global Platts". www.spglobal.com. 2020-09-09. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "Energy Statistics Handbook 2021" (PDF). The Bureau of Energy, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwan. 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ 7.0 7.1 "BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2022" (PDF). BP. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Ministry of Economic Affairs,R.O.C. (2019-10-26). "Promote Green Energy, Increase Nature Gas, Reduce Coal-fired, Achieve Nuclear-free". www.moea.gov.tw. Retrieved 2022-12-24.
- ↑ "Renewables to fall short of 2025 target, report says - Taipei Times". 2022-07-25. Retrieved 2022-12-24.
- ↑ "Natural Gas Plays Outsized Role in Taiwan's Energy Transition". Taiwan Business TOPICS. 2020-10-27. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
- ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan) (2022-11-09). "Taiwan receives strong support at UNFCCC's COP27 - Taiwan Today". Taiwan Today. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 2.16.886.101.20003.20007.20123. "Upstream Operations". CPC Corporation, Taiwan. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ 13.0 13.1 2.16.886.101.20003.20007.20123. "CPC Corporation, Taiwan". CPC Corporation, Taiwan. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ "TOTAL SIGNS A PRODUCTION SHARING CONTRACT WITH CNOOC AND CPC FOR TAIYANG EXPLORATION BLOCK IN SOUTH CHINA SEA". Retrieved February 4, 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "First supply of liquefied natural gas from Cheniere arrives in Taiwan - Focus Taiwan". focustaiwan.tw (in 中文). Retrieved 2021-02-04.
- ↑ Bureau of Energy, Ministry of Economic Affairs, R.O.C. (2019-12-24). "Stable Supply of Natural Gas". www.moeaboe.gov.tw. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ 2.16.886.101.20003.20007.20123. "Downstream Operations". CPC Corporation, Taiwan. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ "Taipower expects to start LNG imports from 2023". www.gasprocessingnews.com. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
