Treñas, Mabilog issue conflicting statements on search for coal-fired power plant investor
Mayor Jerry Treñas and Vice Mayor Jed Mabilog yesterday issued conflicting statements over the city's plan to look for investors to put up a coal-fired power plant here.
Mabilog said the chief executive has created a team to look for interested investors in the city. He did not name the head of the group but the group's primary goal is to get company records of possible coal-fired power plant investors as well as their environmental control measures.
It is preferred that the company is in the business for 10 to 20 years. The track record of the company is tested in the number of years that it has served the area. The investors may have partners in other parts of the world which are into coal-fired power business, said Mabilog.
He said the group has yet to make a report to the Sangguniang Panlungsod over the list of possible coal-fired power plant investors. Mabilog, however assured that before any project is set-up in the city, several consultations will be made.
Although there are different sources of energy -- from wind, solar, hydro, geo-thermal and coal – Mabilog said that a coal-fired power plant is the most viable for the city. "There is no wind energy here, solar is much expensive and there are no available hydro and geothermal sites in the city," said Mabilog.
However, when Treñas was interviewed over Mabilog's statement, he said that there is no need for the city to look for investors on coal-fired power plant.
"The city has a lively economy and there is growth and development here. Any investor who sees profit in investing in a coal-fired power plant will come in," the mayor said.
The economy of the city is in place and new developments will come in at the old Mandurriao airport site. It is 54 hectares and any investor who has a business projection on the power needs of the area will think of investing in power, Treñas added.