With Water and Power Shortages, the Gov’t Must Face the True Picture

  With Water and Power Shortages, the Gov’t Must Face the True Picture

China Times Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan)

May 30, 2018

 Translation of an Excerpt

As we enter the end of May, there is still quite a distance from the hot summer, however, Taiwan has been confronted with a period of “unease.” Power supply alerts have already left people disturbed and short of temper; the water supply has also sent out frequent warnings because of lack of rain causing droughts.

When Lai Ching-te came to office, he declared that resolving the "five shortages" that affect industry investment as the key point of his administration. Water and power occupy two of the five shortages; however, in view of the simultaneous alerts of water and power this year, we can only say "the effects are dismal." Although it takes some time for policies to show their effects, we must remind Lai: viewed from the middle and long-term angles, the issues of water shortages and power shortages are probably more serious, and not eased.

Water shortage is caused principally by climate plus poor management; perhaps it could be attributed to the element of "natural disasters." However, power shortages are created 100 percent by “human failures.” Water shortages in the South Taiwan Science Park are already something normal, but to date, the government still has no proper policy to resolve it. As to the power shortages of “human failures,” we completely don’t see that the government was willing to face the reality squarely. Return to reviewing energy policy with professionalism. From the President on down to Cabinet ministers, they only speak empty words that the “power supply is adequate, it’s a matter of distribution.” If this situation continues for long, water and power issues will become the Achilles’ heel of Taiwan’s economic development.

Attachment : none