Taiwan petrochemical group to import coal from China, Indonesia and Australia

Taiwan petrochemical giant Formosa Plastics Group is seeking to import 10 million tons of coal each year from China, Indonesia and Australia, group chairman Wang Yung-ching said on as quoted by DPA.

Wang, returning from a three-day trip to Beijing, said he met with Chinese leaders to discuss importing coal from China and about expanding the group's investment in China.

Issues discussed included building a hospital in Beijing, launching an auto plant in Ningbo, opening an 8-inch chip plant in Shenzhen and adding four electricity-generating units to the group's power plant in Zhangzhou.

"But the main purpose was to discuss importing coal for Formosa Plastics Group's industrial zone in Mailiao, west Taiwan, which needs 10 million tons of coal each year," Wang told reporters at the Taipei international airport.

"Besides negotiating with China, we are also actively holding talks with Indonesia, Australia and other countries (regarding importing coal)," he said.

China, Indonesia and Australia are among the world's top coal exporters and are close to Taiwan, which does not produce any coal.

The privately-run Formosa Plastics Group is one of the largest petrochemical conglomerates in the world with petrochemical and other factories in many countries.

The Mailiao Industrial Zone has several plants and a harbor to unload coal. (*)