Chiayi Desalination Plant Environmental Review Approved, Pledges Quarterly Oyster Farming Surveys

(Central News Agency, reporter Zhang Xionfeng, Taipei, July 8) The Chiayi Desalination Plant's environmental impact assessment was reviewed and approved today by the Environmental Protection Administration review committee, with recommendations for revisions after confirmation of oyster farming monitoring and brine reuse research. The Chiayi County Government stated that an ocean monitoring station is established in the area for continuous monitoring, and environmental protection will be diligently carried out.

The Ministry of Environment convened the 52nd meeting of the Environmental Impact Assessment Review Committee today to review the "Environmental Impact Statement for the Chiayi Desalination Plant Construction Project."

The developer, the Southern Region Water Resources Bureau of the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Water Resources Agency, stated that the project plans to develop a desalination plant on approximately 6 hectares of newly reclaimed land north of the outer harbor reclamation area in Budai Port, Chiayi. The plant will have a production capacity of 100,000 cubic meters per day and is expected to be completed and begin producing water in 2032. The water will be integrated into the tap water pipeline and managed by the Water Resources Agency for public water supply.

Local residents had previously expressed concerns at a public hearing, pointing out that the nearby waters are a major oyster farming area, and the coast is lined with fish farms that also draw seawater for aquaculture. They feared that the high-concentration brine discharged from the desalination plant would affect the aquaculture industry.

The developer has pledged to conduct oyster surveys once per quarter in the oyster farming area, selecting local oyster farmers as sample households for interviews. This will include collecting data on oyster yield, farming methods, seeding periods, seedling survival rates, harvest periods, and harvest quantities.

Chiayi County Deputy Magistrate Liu Peidong stated that in recent years, climate change has caused situations like the drought in Zengwen Reservoir, making the central government's support for the construction of desalination plants, along with Chiayi's future development, extremely important for this alternative water source. Regarding the concerns about the aquaculture area, the Chiayi County Government has an ocean monitoring station that conducts continuous monitoring, with salinity in the brine being a key monitored item. He emphasized that the county government's stance is to continue to diligently carry out environmental protection.

During the preliminary review meeting, the environmental assessment committee members suggested that the brine from the desalination plant should be evaluated for its feasibility as a demonstration of brine reuse, considering it as a strategic material and in the context of net-zero carbon emissions.

The developer stated that the Water Resources Agency has already conducted preliminary trials and feasibility studies on "Concentration and Reduction of Desalinated Brine and Resource Utilization Technology," with a verification module test at the Taiwan Salt Corporation's Tongxiao Salt Plant. Additionally, a project for carbon sequestration through algae cultivation using brine is being organized to research the production of carotene and high-quality algal oil, thereby increasing the economic incentives for resource utilization.

No new opinions were added during the environmental committee meeting. After closed-door discussions, it was recommended that the project be approved after supplementary revisions. (Editor: Li Xizhang) 1150708

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