Taiwan eyes energy sector

By HANNAH NERO
THE Trade Mission of Taiwan in Port Moresby wants to continue trading with PNG as there will be an energy gap of around 30 per cent, and a demand for clean energy, says representative Ben Wang.
“We want to create momentum for trade, but in reality, also abiding by the One-China policy,” Wang said.
“Taiwan is PNG’s fifth largest trading partner, and records a rapidly growing trade. For instance, in 2011, the total trade between PNG and Taiwan was valued at more than K220 million,” he said.
In 2021 total trade value had risen to over K2,600 million, with PNG seeing a surplus of more than K2,300 million.”
The national government closed its representative office in Taiwan last year, with Foreign Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko saying that the office was no longer needed due to cost reasons. “We’ll be setting up a new office, lower than what it was, to ensure we can have a better understanding between Taipei and PNG,” he said.
Wang said most of Taiwan’s power plants would be decommissioned by next year.
“We will have an energy gap of around 30 per cent. In between, we need clean energy, which is the PNG LNG. Taiwan could be a potential customer through the China Petroleum Cooperation, and to some extent, since the first project we are already your buyer.
“PNG is blessed by God and has a lot of natural resources aside from LNG.
“Taiwan needs to trade on a large scale while maintaining relationship with PNG.
“I don’t see how administrative functions and mismanagement should affect the sovereignty in large scale trade, reopen trade office.”