Mailiao Carbon Storage Exploration Project Clears Environmental Review

Taiwan's Ministry of Environment has approved the Mailiao Carbon Storage Geological Exploration Project submitted by Formosa Petrochemical Corporation (FPCC), transitioning domestic carbon capture and storage into on-site verification. This represents the first project cleared under the Carbon Capture and Storage Administrative Regulations. FPCC confirmed its partnership with TSMC to convert Mailiao power plant units to natural gas integrated with CCS to supply low-carbon electricity. The project scope spans a 50 km by 50 km area across the Mailiao Industrial Park and adjacent waters to conduct geological surveys and drilling for core sampling and simulation. While geologists note the area features stable rock foundations with few earthquakes and no active faults, environmental groups cite research questioning international real-world abatement rates, noting that environmental impact assessments and strict reservoir requirements remain necessary prior to injection approval.

Key takeaways

• FPCC's Mailiao carbon storage geological exploration plan cleared Environmental Ministry review as the first approved case under new regulations.
• FPCC confirmed collaboration with TSMC to convert Mailiao power units to natural gas paired with CCS for low-carbon electricity.
• The exploration spans a 50 km by 50 km land and offshore zone involving exploratory wells, core extraction, and geological simulation.
• Geologists view the bedrock as stable without active faults, while civic groups caution that actual emissions reduction efficiency requires scrutiny.