Taipei, April 21 (CNA) Several Southeast Asian countries, including Malaysia and Indonesia, have expressed interest in hosting the Kuokuang Petrochemical project that is generating massive protests in Taiwan, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) official said Thursday.
Malaysia and Indonesia are among a number of Southeast Asian countries that expressed interest in the project via Taiwan's overseas representative offices, said James C.K. Tien, director-general of the Department of Asian and Pacific Affairs, at a regular press briefing.
The final review of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the multi-million-dollar project was being carried out on Thursday.
Opponents of the plan to build the petrochemical complex in the Dacheng Wetlands in central Taiwan have said it would create losses that would outweigh its benefits.
With several environmental groups, students and other activists protesting against the project, the idea of moving it offshore is being explored.
Malaysia was the first country reported to be interested in the plant. Its deputy minister of international trade and industry Mukhriz Mahathir said April 10 that Malaysia will be flexible on special requests by CPC Corp., the parent company of Kuokuang.
However, the countries that have expressed interest have not submitted any substantial plans for hosting the project, Tien said.
Asked by reporters whether those countries were concerned about the possible environmental effects of the project, Tien said every country has different priorities.
Meanwhile, government agencies in Taiwan have been sending mixed messages on the idea of relocating the Kuokuang plant overseas.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said April 7 that it supported the proposal, while the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) said the same day that it was not considering moving the first phase of the project out of the country.
Protests organized by environmental activists were held in various cities in Taiwan Wednesday, and of press time Thursday crowds were gathered outside the EPA building awaiting the decision on the EIA. (By Chris Wang) enditem /pc