Farming advocates push for restoration of Jiji Weir water supply to agricultural lands

Formosa Petrochemical Corp, a highly profitable global enterprise, operates a naphtha cracker plant in Yunlin County's Mailiao Township. This plant, which has been in operation for 30 years, has been a subject of controversy due to its water consumption practices.

For decades, the plant has been diverting water via the Jiji Weir, a water source located in Nantou County. This diversion has been shared with agricultural users in Changhua and Yunlin counties. However, the diversion of river water by the Jiji Weir has prevented aquifer replenishment in geologically fragile areas such as Ershuei and Sijhou townships in Changhua County.

Severe land subsidence along the Jiji Weir, particularly in Yunlin County's Yuanchang Township, has occurred, with the ground sinking by as much as 2m. This land subsidence raises safety concerns for the high-speed rail line running through Yunlin County.

During the dry season (February to May), the plant has no water rights but continues to purchase water at low prices from the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Bureau of Industrial Parks. Local farmers have been forced to rely on groundwater due to the competition for resources.

In an effort to address these concerns, a new contract has been proposed. It requires Formosa Petrochemical Corp to promptly activate its desalination facility. Given the expected 100,000 tonnes of desalinated seawater per day this month, the renewed contract should at least cap the plant's allocation at 140,000 tonnes per day. The 100,000 tonnes expected from desalination will be added to the overall supply portfolio before calculating distribution.

The new contract will also include a dry-season water use plan. During the dry season, the plant has no water rights, and the details of this plan are yet to be confirmed.

Environmental groups have been advocating for the redirecting of water for the industrial naphtha cracker in Yunlin County's Mailiao Township to farmland after desalinated water availability. However, no relevant information about these demands or the timing of water rights contract negotiations could be found in the provided search results.

It's worth noting that the plant's production capacity has declined over the past few years. Despite this, the Water Resources Agency did not confirm a reduction in the naphtha cracker's allocation by at least 100,000 tonnes.

The massive water consumption of the naphtha cracker plant could potentially threaten the habitat of white dolphins near the estuary of the Jhuoshuei River. As the situation evolves, it is crucial to strike a balance between industrial needs and environmental conservation.

The renewed contract and the activation of the desalination facility mark a significant step towards addressing the water concerns surrounding Formosa Petrochemical's naphtha cracker plant. However, more discussions and actions are needed to ensure sustainable water management and protect the local environment.

Farming advocates push for restoration of Jiji Weir water supply to agricultural lands