Aiming for Uninterrupted Power with Redundancy and Critical Infrastructure Security
- Written by Lee Wen-hsin and Jake Chung / Casual Contributor
Discussion of emergency power restoration strategies
With the aftermath of the power outage affecting the Iberian Peninsula and parts of southern France fresh in mind, the government promises to concentrate on redundant power delivery, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said during a Legislative Yuan session in Taipei yesterday.
KMT Legislator Weng Hsiao-ling (翁曉玲) echoed concerns about power shortages, reminding us of the multiple power failures during the term of former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), three of which affected millions of people.
According to Weng, Taiwan faces inadequate power supply, and stability is easily compromised by earthquakes and tripped relay stations, not to mention a potential terrorist attack or war scenario. Such unforeseen circumstances could lead to paralysis in telecom base stations, causing a freeze in mobile networks.
Weng questioned if the government was adequately prepared for this, asking about the policies and plans under discussion to assist the public during such situations. She argued that President William Lai's (賴清德) focus on whole-of-society resilience should logically imply government readiness.
Premier Cho acknowledged that past power failures under Tsai's administration were largely due to equipment malfunctions and staff mismanagement. To address potential power outages caused by natural disasters or human error, Cho said the government is now focusing on redundant energy provision.
Recent reports indicate Taiwan's attention on critical infrastructure security is multi-dimensional, covering energy, water, communications, transportation, finance, and healthcare systems. The National Security Council's information security strategy prioritizes these areas, calling for comprehensive assessments of potential risks and countermeasures to protect infrastructure.
Weng also inquired about the status of the Ministry of Digital Affairs' 2023 Forward-looking Project, which aims to boost digital resilience through the use of emerging technologies and the construction of ground stations to strengthen communication networks. Despite the project's estimated cost of NT$550 million (US$17.71 million), only a fraction of the promised 773 non-geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) ground stations have been operational thus far, due to funding constraints.
These stations, intended for government use during conflicts or national emergencies, are restricted to official access, preventing civilian operation. The project's complete ground station installation was finished last year.
Experts and analysts warn of gaps in hardened logistics infrastructure for war sustainability of water, electricity, and food, as well as potential centralization concerns regarding privatized infrastructure, necessitating the need for crisis management protocols between government and private utility operators. Additionally, amid Gray Zone hybrid threats, such as recent Chinese military exercises involving civilian vessels[2], Taiwan needs non-traditional responses, including preparedness for cross-domain deterrence and countermeasures against blockades and lawfare tactics.
Enrichment Insights:
- Recent reports indicate a focus on multidimensional critical infrastructure security, but gaps remain: insufficient energy network redundancy, wartime hardening, and privatization coordination.
- The project aims to build 773 NGSO ground stations, 70 satellite base stations within Taiwan, and three NGSOs overseas, with 170 operational stations so far, due to funding issues.
- Some experts and analysts suggest the need for centralized control of critical infrastructure to maintain services during conflicts, pointing to ongoing structural challenges in coordinating disaster response across public-private sectors.
- Hybrid "gray zone" threats, such as recent Chinese military exercises, highlight the requirement for non-traditional responses, but specific power grid countermeasures aren't detailed in the available reports.
In light of the recent power outages in Europe, the Taiwanese government has promised to focus on redundant power delivery, a commitment reiterated by Premier Cho Jung-tai in a Legislative Yuan session. KMT Legislator Weng Hsiao-ling has raised concerns about potential power shortages, bringing attention to the multiple power failures that occurred during the term of former president Tsai Ing-wen. To address such issues, Weng inquired about the status of the Ministry of Digital Affairs' 2023 Forward-looking Project, which aims to boost digital resilience and reduce potential power outages. However, only a fraction of the promised NGSO ground stations have been operational, with financial constraints being the main cause for this delay. In 2023, the focus of President William Lai, and by extension the Taiwanese government, is prioritizing critical infrastructure security across multiple sectors, including electricity, though specific details regarding power grid countermeasures against hybrid threats or potential war scenarios are not currently available.
