Taiwan's highest administrative court has thrown out the government's permit for the third LNG import terminal in Taoyuan, a win for algal reef campaigners and a setback for the island's energy plans.

• The Supreme Administrative Court cancelled the Interior Ministry's approval for CPC Corp to use 95 hectares of coastline for the terminal.
• Judges ruled the ministry approved the project without checking that every legal condition was met, making the permit clearly unlawful.
• Taoyuan residents brought the case to protect the algal reef offshore, and the ruling is final.
• The Interior Ministry called the decision a surprise, having won at two lower courts since the permit was issued in 2018.

Outlook: The ministry will study the written judgment and ask CPC for documents before deciding what happens to the half-built terminal, leaving Taiwan's gas supply plans in limbo.