Material Topic: Energy Management

Major causes

Climate change is a common global challenge. The international community is becoming more concerned about the issue of greenhouse gas reduction, and has reached a global consensus on "Net Zero Emissions by 2050" at UNCAC 2021. Ministry of Environment has proposed to amend "Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act" into "Climate Change Response Act", and to incorporate the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 into the law, making greenhouse gas reduction and management a national policy. TIPC has reviewed the results of greenhouse gas inventories over the years and identified Scope 2 indirect emissions (purchased electricity) as the main source of emissions, accounting for 85-90% of the total emissions. In order to comply with the national net-zero policy, the issue of energy management is of great importance to TIPC.

Effects and Impacts

Actual positive environmental impacts

Policy/Strategy

• TIPC reduces its own greenhouse gas emission from energy use through the principles of "reducing gray power use", "increasing green power supply", and "removing or reducing carbon emissions".
• Agenda item 4 of Sustainable Development Steering Committee meeting: Sustainable development execution plan of TIPC focuses on the implementation of "improvement of facilities and equipment" and "increase of clean energy use".

Preventive or Remedial Measures

• Currently, smart meters are installed in every port until 2025, and supported by energy management system to assist management units in controlling energy consumption, improving efficiency of energy use, and avoiding wastage.
• Provide multiple appeal channels, such as company mailbox: mailbox(Open a new window) 。

Evaluation Management System

• Energy Conservation Promotion Group meets every six months to review and propose improvement measures for issues raised by each unit. MOTC also conducts energy conservation meetings every six months to review and report on the performance of each department and agency. 
• The Vice President of Engineering convenes quarterly meetings of Smart Energy Management System Establishment Working Group to manage the promotion progress and control the implementation progress of each port.
• Carry out regular audits on emission management according to ISO14064-1 management review procedures.

Performance and Adjustments

• Energy intensity is reduced by 29% compared to 2020.
• Cumulative wheeled supply of 150,956 kWh in 2023.

Material Topic: Air Pollution, Greenhouse Gas Emission

Major causes

• According to the IMO, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur oxides (SO2) emitted by shipping account for 13% and 12% of global emissions, respectively. According to the Taiwan Emission Data System (TEDS 11.1) published by MOE, the port area accounts for a significant proportion of local pollution in its county and city. Among them, Kaohsiung Port contributes the highest percentage, 20% of the total proportion of Kaohsiung City, and ships are the main source of pollution in the port area. Therefore, TIPC promotes ship management, which is conducive to reducing air pollution.
• Greenhouse gas emission contributes to climate change. Should the port be affected by extreme weather, ships can no longer unload their cargoes at the established terminals and the supply chain will be disrupted, which will affect downstream production and in turn the upstream industry. Therefore, TIPC pays close attention to issues related to GHG emissions.

Effects and Impacts

Potential negative environmental impacts

Policy/Strategy

• Enforcement of environmental monitoring and pollution prevention to enhance the environmental quality of ports and harbors.
• Implement green port promotion program to build international quality ports.

Preventive or Remedial Measures

• Should there be any air pollution violation, immediate improvement is required, or advice sheet is given with a deadline for improvements. If no definite improvement is made, evidence will be collected and forwarded to Maritime Port Bureau, MOTC, to be adjudicated by law. Also, regular joint audits will be conducted with the local environmental protection administrations and Maritime Affairs Center, Maritime Port Bureau, MOTC, with operators invited to convene advocacy meetings.
• In order to reduce the emission of air pollution and minimize the impacts on the neighboring communities, TIPC has implemented the following pollution prevention measures: Reduce vessel speed to less than 12 knots, expand the use of shore power facilities, and speed up the clearance time for vehicles using the automated gate system.
• TIPC implements its own GHG emission reduction plan and provides guidance to port operators in conducting GHG inventories and carbon disclosure. In order to reduce carbon footprints, the corporate also works with stakeholders to mitigate GHG emissions through land (sea) traffic and transportation management, electrification of facilities, pollution and emission control, as well as regulation of commercial contracts with port operators. The following are some of the actions taken to mitigate GHG emissions.
• Establish a Smart Energy Management System to control energy consumption in the port area and enhance management efficiency, in the hope of further reducing GHG emission. At present, the company’s Smart Energy Management System is still under construction in 2024, and the system will be completed in 2025 with integrated monitoring information. After 2026, it is only possible to conduct energy control and compare figures of previous years to propose specific energy saving or carbon reduction values.
• Grievance channels: Receive public petitions or notifications from environmental protection agencies, company's suggestion mailbox, EPA's 1999 public petition mailbox, Executive Yuan's suggestion mailbox, etc.

Evaluation Management System

• Regular audits on emission management are conducted according to ISO 14064-1 management review procedures.
• Implement measures in accordance with the annual objectives of “International Commercial Port Air Pollution Control Action Plan”.
• Each port conducts environmental inspections in the port area from time to time. In case of any violation, immediate improvement is required, or an advice sheet is given with a deadline for improvement. If no definite improvement is made, evidence will be collected and forwarded to Maritime Port Bureau, MOTC, to be adjudicated by law. Additionally, regular joint audits will be conducted with the local environmental protection administrations and Maritime Affairs Center, Maritime Port Bureau, MOTC, with operators invited to convene advocacy meetings.

Performance and Adjustments

As per the air quality monitoring results of neighboring commercial ports in 2023 announced by MOE, after comparing with the data of 2017, the pollution reduction of SO2 at Keelung station reached 57% and PM2.5 reached 23%, whereas that of SO2 at Kaohsiung Xiaogang station reached 71% and that of PM2.5 reached 31%.

Material Topic: Circular Economy

Major Causes

• In line with the government's policy of promoting circular economy and under the coordination of Public Construction Commission of the Executive Yuan, TIPC assists in demineralization of BOF slags of the steel refinery, which has been in operation for a long time.
• The water resources in Taiwan are very limited. Therefore, TIPC has been adhering to the concept of "Back to Nature" for years, and has diversified the development of different water resources (spring water, reclaimed water, surface water) to be recycled for port use, thereby achieving the goal of water conservation.

Effects and Impacts

Positive Impact:

• Assisting in de-mineralization of furnace slag not only satisfies the need for resource recycling, but also reduces the need for natural resources exploitation and protects the nature. 
• The development of water resources for recycling can significantly reduce the demand for tap water and achieve the goal of water conservation.
• Recycling of resources may impose a positive environmental impact.

Policy/Strategy

• The reclamation of the new commercial port site is partially substituted by BOF slags, with quality and management system in place for control.
• Use reclaimed water for planting and watering operations in the port area, dust suppression, etc. to reduce the use of tap water or to cope with the water shortage problem caused by extreme weather.

Preventive or Remedial Measures

• In addition to quality control and environmental monitoring during the reclamation period in accordance with the EIA requirements, emergency response operation plan is also established with the material suppliers.
• The estimated annual demand for reclaimed water is susceptible to climate change, whereby the duration and intensity of rainy season shall affect the actual water consumption. Therefore, in addition to the maintenance of water supply equipment, TIPC also endeavors to enhance the efficiency of water supply related hardware equipment.

Evaluation Management System

• In accordance with the environmental impact analysis report of "Taipei Commercial Port Logistics and Warehouse Zone Reclamation Project"
• In accordance with the construction project specifications of Public Construction Commission "Chapter 02703: Reclamation of BOF Slags", and "Instruction Manual for BOF Slags Marine Work" formulated by Industrial Development Bureau, Ministry of Economic Affairs.
• Follow the "Agreement on Filling in the Windbreak Belt of Phase II, III and IV of Taipei Port Logistics and Warehouse Area using BOF Slags" between the two parties.
• As per the implementation plan of Environmental Sustainability Group of Sustainable Development Executive Committee.

Performance and Adjustments

• Starting November 11, 2020, 1,745,854metric tons (646,612cubic meters) of slags were reclaimed in 2023, yielding a cumulative total of 4,542,282metric tons (1,682,326 cubic meters).
• Saved 426,000 metric tons of tap water in 2023.

Material Topic: Biodiversity

Major Causes

In addition to the pursuit of operation and efficiency, environmental sustainability has emerged as a trend in the sustainable port operation. Environmental protection and maintenance of ecological diversity in the port area are important issues in striking a balance between port development and operation and ecological conservation.

Effects and Impacts

Negative impact:
Equally important is the issue of ecological diversity, and TIPC is committed to protecting the environment and conserving marine and terrestrial communities in port area to prevent the loss of biodiversity from impacting on the ecosystem.

Policy/Strategy

In order to minimize the impact of port construction on the ecological environment, as well as to implement the concept of sustainable development of ecological projects, TIPC has formulated "Operating Manual for Implementation of Directions for Port and Harbor Project Ecological Inspection”.

Preventive or Remedial Measures

Prior to ecological restoration, we first identify the major environmental issues in the port area and conduct in-depth studies and analyses, identifying the targeted ecological species and their corresponding habitats, mapping out their habitats and the direction of upgrading the entire ecosystem, and proposing a feasibility assessment plan based on the port development and land use planning.

Evaluation Management System

Conform to national ecological auditing regulations

Performance and Adjustments

• Suao Port completed benthic coral coverage survey at Tofu Cape in Nanfang’ao.
• Conducted 1 training session on ecological audit of port projects.
• 15 records of cetacean notification management.
• Carried out ecological surveys and conservation plans for Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins in Taichung Port and developed conservation measures.
• A total of four wild bird ecological surveys at Port of Kaohsiung Southern Star Project Area.
• Implemented Anping Port mangrove restoration program, with a reserve area of 4.6 hectares.