As the Kuokuang Petrochemical Technology Corp has yet to secure approval from the Environmental Protection Administration for its new plant in Changhwa County, economics researchers yesterday urged the government to use the funds invested in the petrochemical industry for the green energy industry instead, arguing that the latter could generate more production and job opportunities.
Wang To-far (王塗發), an adjunct economics professor at National Taipei University, said that in its environmental impact assessment report, the company said construction of the plant — which was estimated to be completed in 16 years — would create a total output of NT$1.24 trillion (US$38 billion).
The company said that the construction would add NT$387.4 billion to the nation’s GDP, equivalent to 3.05 percent of last year’s GDP.
“However, if you break it down to the average of those 16 years, the total output would drop to NT$77.64 billion and the GDP contribution would be reduced to NT$24.21 billion. That only accounts for 0.19 percent of GDP in 2009,” Wang told a press conference yesterday hosted by Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Tien Chiu-chin (田秋堇).
The green energy industry, on the other hand, could give a strong boost to the nation’s industrial development, he said.
“If the Kuokuang project costs NT$500 billion and we invest the funds in green energy instead, it will create an additional output of at least NT$125 billion because it will simultaneously stimulate development of new electronics products,” Wang said.
Chen Chi-chung (陳吉仲) a professor at National Chung Hsing University’s Applied Economics Department, said that the external costs of Kuokuang’s project would be between NT$58.8 billion and NT$114 billion.
The plant could only generate economic benefits of about NT$51.6 billion, making it not worth the investment, Chen said.
CHANGING LANDSCAPE: Many of the part-time programs for educators were no longer needed, as many teachers obtain a graduate degree before joining the workforce, experts said Taiwanese universities this year canceled 86 programs, Ministry of Education data showed, with educators attributing the closures to the nation’s low birthrate as well as shifting trends. Fifty-three of the shuttered programs were part-time postgraduate degree programs, about 62 percent of the total, the most in the past five years, the data showed. National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) discontinued the most part-time master’s programs, at 16: chemistry, life science, earth science, physics, fine arts, music, special education, health promotion and health education, educational psychology and counseling, education, design, Chinese as a second language, library and information sciences, mechatronics engineering, history, physical education
DEADLOCK: As the commission is unable to forum a quorum to review license renewal applications, the channel operators are not at fault and can air past their license date The National Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said that the Public Television Service (PTS) and 36 other television and radio broadcasters could continue airing, despite the commission’s inability to meet a quorum to review their license renewal applications. The licenses of PTS and the other channels are set to expire between this month and June. The National Communications Commission Organization Act (國家通訊傳播委員會組織法) stipulates that the commission must meet the mandated quorum of four to hold a valid meeting. The seven-member commission currently has only three commissioners. “We have informed the channel operators of the progress we have made in reviewing their license renewal applications, and
The High Prosecutors’ Office yesterday withdrew an appeal against the acquittal of a former bank manager 22 years after his death, marking Taiwan’s first instance of prosecutors rendering posthumous justice to a wrongfully convicted defendant. Chu Ching-en (諸慶恩) — formerly a manager at the Taipei branch of BNP Paribas — was in 1999 accused by Weng Mao-chung (翁茂鍾), then-president of Chia Her Industrial Co, of forging a request for a fixed deposit of US$10 million by I-Hwa Industrial Co, a subsidiary of Chia Her, which was used as collateral. Chu was ruled not guilty in the first trial, but was found guilty
Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) yesterday appealed to the authorities to release former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) from pretrial detention amid conflicting reports about his health. The TPP at a news conference on Thursday said that Ko should be released to a hospital for treatment, adding that he has blood in his urine and had spells of pain and nausea followed by vomiting over the past three months. Hsieh Yen-yau (謝炎堯), a retired professor of internal medicine and Ko’s former teacher, said that Ko’s symptoms aligned with gallstones, kidney inflammation and potentially dangerous heart conditions. Ko, charged with