GBPC: Clean coal technology not a threat to environment, people's health
The proponent of a 164 MW coal-fired power plant in Brgy. Ingore, La Paz reiterated that the proposed power plant would not be a threat to the environment and the people's health as it will use clean coal technology.
Global Business Power Corporation (GBPC) issued the statement amidst the issues raised by the five governors of Western Visayas on the proposed coal-fired power plant.
GBPC said the power plant will be utilizing state-of-the-art equipment to (1) ensure optimal combustion or burning of the coal, (2) capture dust particles after the burning of the coal so the particles are not emitted to the atmosphere, (3) ensure proper treatment of waste water before it is discharged to the sea, (4) prevent coal dust pollution through covered coal handling system, (5) minimize noise through noise-insulated buildings, and (5) ensure continuous, real-time monitoring system to ensure compliance with all pertinent environmental laws and regulations.
All these systems are intended precisely to help protect the environment and public health, GBPC said.
It added, the same clean coal technology is widely used in many countries, with locations in populated areas.
In the Philippines, there are more than 3,800 MW of coal-fired power plants located in the provinces of Cebu, Pangasinan, Batangas, Quezon, Zambales, Bulacan, Pampanga and Misamis Oriental.
More coal-fired power plants are being planned as coal fired power generation is a stable and competitive source of electricity, with proven technology and track record in mitigating any adverse effect on the environment and public health, GBPC said.
"Locating the coal plant in Iloilo City will also allow the direct supply of power to support the growing power requirements of the city, which today is served mostly by the diesel plant of Panay Power Corporation. The diesel plant emits much higher levels of sulfur oxide (SOx or acid rain), nitrogen oxide (NOx or smog) and total suspended particulates (TSP or dust) than the proposed coal plant, although such levels are still within the limits set under DENR regulations. Diesel power generation is likewise much more expensive than coal power generation. Thus, locating the coal plant in Iloilo City will reduce the electricity bills of all businesses and residents of the city, including those students, workers and employees coming from Antique, Guimaras, Capiz, Aklan and Negros Occidental who now reside in Iloilo City," said GBPC.
The company also stated that it agrees with the position of the five Western Visayas governors about the need to develop renewable sources of energy within Panay island. Unfortunately, it said, there are no renewable options for baseload generation (i.e., power plants that operate continuously) within Panay island. "There are no geothermal or natural gas sources within the island, so the remaining options for baseload power generation are diesel and coal."
However, GBPC declared that it is committed to faithfully comply with all conditions set under the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) issued by the DENR for the coal-fired power plant project, to ensure reliable and safe operation of the power plant in the long-term. Among the programs to be implemented is a carbon emissions reduction program through mangrove reforestation and tree planting, to help address the concerns on global warming.
GBPC also clarified that the grant of the ECC for the project underwent a long, tedious, exhaustive and transparent process, carefully weighing the advantages and disadvantages of the project.
"In the end, the project was endorsed by a broad sector of society (government and barangay officials, the business sector and various NGOs / stakeholders in the area) owing to its obvious advantage of additional power supply at lower rates (to generate more investments and jobs not just in Iloilo City and Province, but in the entire island of Panay) and the use of clean coal technology to mitigate any adverse effect on the environment and public health.