Taiwanese voters will decide this Saturday on a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal considered key for the chipmaking powerhouse to secure its energy supply but facing attacks from conservationists — and from an opposition party eager to wrong-foot the government.
The referendum, which seeks to relocate the project away from an ancient algal reef and would likely delay it for years, has a reasonable chance of passing, some polls have shown.
At stake for the government is not just averting future power cuts, like those in May during a drought and heat wave, but an environmental policy that moves away from polluting coal and nuclear power, towards greener and renewable alternatives.