Kiwi firm finds geothermal opportunities in Taiwan

A Taiwanese developer invited the Taupō-based company to visit potential geothermal energy sites in Taiwan in 2019. The company’s International New Ventures Robert Mandjes said the firm’s presence in Taiwan has grown in the following five years. 

“We secured work after this initial visit, and since then we have been exploring additional opportunities,” Mandjes told the Asia Media Centre. The company has since worked on geothermal projects in Taiwan with local technology conglomerate AUO, which was recognized with a New Zealand-Taiwan Partnership Award at the 2024 ANZCham Taiwan Business Awards. 

A delegation from Taiwan's Taichung visits MB Century in New Zealand last year. (MB Century photo)

“Recently, we advised AUO through our consultancy group on developing additional geothermal opportunities and investments,” Mandjes said. 

Taiwan is heavily dependent on fossil fuel imports to power its economy, and the island’s government has made geothermal energy a core part of its “Net-Zero 2050.” By 2050, the government aims to produce 60 percent to 70 percent of its power supply from geothermal energy. 

Drilling on Taiwan’s first deep geothermal well began in October, and a senior economics official said the following month that 20 teams would be sent to conduct geothermal exploration around the island this year. The government aims to produce 20 megawatts of geothermal energy in 2025, and 1 gigawatt’s worth by 2028. 

“We believe Taiwan has a lot of geothermal potential, and our long history in geothermal can help develop this through a collaborative approach,” Mandjes said.  

The company’s CEO Greg Thompson noted plans to establish an office in Taiwan last year, and Mandjes said the process is ongoing. “We hope this will allow us to get closer to the market and be ready if additional opportunities materialise,” he said. 

Taiwan’s government is also keen to work with New Zealand on geothermal projects. In February last year, GNS Science signed an MOU with the Taiwan economics ministry’s mining and geothermal arm and a local university to share New Zealand’s geothermal expertise. 

Taiwan is aiming to produce up to 70 percent of its power supply from geothermal sources. Pictured: Qingshui Geothermal Power Plant in Taiwan/Wikimedia Commons

Mandjes said Taupō’s local government has also welcomed several Taiwanese government and Indigenous delegations to visit the geothermal landscape in Taupō. He said MB Century had used these visits to explore collaboration with more Taiwanese business partners. 

Mandjes said New Zealand and Taiwanese businesspeople are both motivated by efficiency and innovation. He said the company had experienced some challenges navigating Taiwan’s labour laws. However, he noted that New Zealand Trade and Enterprise’s Taipei office had been a big help in entering the Taiwan market. 

In addition to Taiwan, Mandjes said MB Century has opened a branch in the Philippines offering engineering and other services related to drilling, exploration, and extraction for major geothermal operators. He said MB Century is also setting up a company in Indonesia “to demonstrate our commitment to the Indonesian geothermal market.” 

“Currently we support work in Indonesia out of New Zealand. “However, we want to demonstrate our commitment by setting up a company there to be closer to our customers and to recruit local talent for training.” 

Mandjes said MB Century also has ongoing work on geothermal projects in Kenya and is exploring opportunities in Japan. He said he is confident that the company will be at the forefront of sustainable energy for future generations as demand for renewable power increases.

Banner image: Geothermal vapor in Yangmingshan National Park, Taiwan. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Asia Media Centre