Taiwan defends Taipower's controversial Shenao coal-fired power plant

Ministry of Economic Affairs says the current supply imbalance needs to be addressed urgently with the new plant's help.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs backed a disputed plan to build a coal-fired power plant in New Taipei City after it said that the nation's current regional power supply imbalance must be resolved.

State-owned Taiwan Power is planning to build a coal-fired plant on the site of the old Shenao Power Plant which was demolished in 2011.

Minister of Economic Affairs Shen Jong-chin emphasised that it is necessary to build the facility as electricity supply is at risk of being unstable.