Geothermal Project Applications Must Adhere to Indigenous Peoples Basic Law　MOEA Affirms Commitment to Local Right-to-Know

The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) stated that, to protect the rights of Indigenous communities during geothermal exploration and development, the Renewable Energy Development Act and the Geothermal Exploration Development Permit and Management Regulation clearly stipulate that any application for geothermal exploration or development permits involving Indigenous lands or public lands within a certain vicinity of Indigenous communities must comply with Article 21 of the Indigenous Peoples Basic Law. Relevant supporting documents must be submitted to prove compliance.

Since the implementation of the Geothermal Exploration Development Permit and Management Regulation in 2024, a joint review mechanism has been adopted for reviewing exploration and development permit applications. Local government agencies and academic experts from the project site areas are invited to serve as members of the review committee to jointly safeguard the rights of local residents.

In addition, to ensure the public's right to information and foster good relations with the community, the regulations require that explanation sessions be held before construction, regardless of whether the geothermal project is on public or private land. The MOEA's Energy Administration is currently drafting relevant guidelines for these sessions to help geothermal developers fulfill their responsibility to communicate effectively with local residents and reduce concerns.

The MOEA emphasized that all geothermal power plant developments in Indigenous areas must comply with the Indigenous Peoples Basic Law and related regulations, and respect the rights and interests of local tribes. The MOEA will continue to collaborate with the Council of Indigenous Peoples through a government-to-government model to clarify the timeline and process for consultations with Indigenous communities. This ensures that the application process for geothermal projects respects local and tribal rights while accelerating the development of geothermal power plants.