TAIWAN/CHINA DEBATE

Sir,

May I again contribute my thoughts on the Taiwan/China debate. The huge number of comments on taiwanchina9@gmail.com have been an eye-opener in many ways. I wish that the Taiwan Embassy would hold open lectures to educate the ordinary emaSwati about how they see the future cooperation beyond the donations, trainings, investment in textiles and the good things they do. We need a true discussion on the role Taiwan can play in the true industrialisation of Eswatini from present 300MW per year to 5300MWper year. Taiwan is at 41 199MWper year. Now that’s industrialised.

Taiwan relies on imports for more than 99 per cent of its energy needs. The Renewable Energy Act was passed in 2009 to promote alternative energy sources such as hydropower, wind, geothermal and solar. However, traditional energy sources such as coal, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and nuclear power still dominate, accounting for more than 78 per cent of the energy supply. Currently, Taiwan primarily imports coal from Australia and Indonesia. LNG is sourced largely from the Middle East and Southeast Asian countries.

The United States and South Africa provide Taiwan with its uranium fuel rod supplies. In response to public concerns about nuclear safety following the Fukushima disaster, Taiwan has indefinitely suspended the commissioning and commercial operation of the fourth nuclear (Lungmen) power plant. Taiwan’s energy policy is designed to maintain a well-mixed portfolio of energy sources to balance energy costs, energy sufficiency and environmental protection. Taiwan is a democratic country with very strong fiscal discipline and their financial institutions seem to operate more independently from political influences of the day and looking at feasibility of projects.

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