TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — An explosion and fire at the Hsinta Power Plant on Tuesday evening prompted Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) to stress energy resilience and note that much of Kaohsiung’s electricity is exported to other counties and cities while residents bear the risk.

Chen said Kaohsiung has actively shifted from coal to gas power generation and currently emits about 50 million tonnes of carbon emissions. He said the city will cut emissions by placing coal-fired units in standby and accelerating their decommissioning, per UDN.

He argued each municipality should shoulder responsibility for its own electricity needs. Kaohsiung has long had the highest surplus generation, with about 30% supplied to other counties and cities, he said, adding that power production’s environmental impact creates an unfair burden on residents.

Chen urged the central government to speed up power-mix reform and distribute generation more evenly, citing the Hsinta blast as an added risk for nearby communities.

The KMT caucus in the Kaohsiung City Council also criticized the central government’s energy policy and oversight of power plants, calling for a full review to protect residents from future disasters.

Kaohsiung City Council KMT caucus leader Huang Hsiang-shu (黃香菽) said the new Unit 2 at the Hsinta Power Plant was originally slated to begin commercial operation by the end of March 2026, but Taipower moved the timetable up to the end of this year to meet the “nuclear-free homeland” policy.

Huang said safety must come first, adding that the latest explosion requires a thorough investigation, especially with residents reporting a gas leak before the blast. He also alleged the city has limited oversight of the plant, leaving officials unable to probe potentially dangerous conditions.