By an OGJ correspondent
TAIPEI, Mar. 19 -- A number of Taiwanese legislators have proposed a new Natural Gas Industry Act that could end state-owned CPC Corp.'s monopoly on gas importation. A draft of the act is expected to be completed and submitted to the Taiwan's Cabinet for approval before the end of April.
If enacted into law, the act would enable other companies to lease CPC's LNG terminals and pipelines. CPC owns Taiwan's only two LNG receiving terminals.
A prime candidate for leasing CPC's terminals is the Taiwan Power Co. (Taipower), which accounts for 60% of Taiwan's total LNG consumption. Taipower has petitioned the government to import LNG directly and will consider building its own terminal if permission is granted.
