Another investor eyes coal-fired plant in Cadiz

MAYOR Patrick Escalante of Cadiz City said another investor, Pacific Energy Corporation, is also interested in constructing a 100-megawatt coal-fired power plant in the city.

Company officials are set to present their power project proposal before the members of the City Council this week, he said.

"It's a good sign that there are now investors who are interested in putting up their businesses in the city. If these projects push through, this will be good for the city and the entire province as well," Escalante said.

He said that after Pacific Energy’s presentation, Cadiz officials will consult with the Department of Energy about the possibility of having two coal-fired plants in the city with a total capacity of 170 megawatts

Philippine Power Corporation, a conglomeration of Filipino and Chinese investors, is already in the process of applying for the necessary permits with concerned government agencies for its proposed 70-megawatt coal-fired plant, which the City Government has already approved.

The company will put up the plant in a ten-hectare reclamation area at the Cadiz City Port Zone.

Once proved by the Philippine Reclamation Authority, the company will immediately start with the project.

The interested investors, Escalante explained, will use the cleanest coal technology.

For its part, Philippine Power said that it will bring in a power plant from Italy that has a very minimal smoke emission.

Escalante said that most of the countries in the world now prefer coal-fired power plants over any other power plants.

He said this is the reason why the council unanimously supported the project, which is aimed at addressing the looming power shortage in the whole province in 2015.

Escalante also assured Negrense consumers that before signing any agreement with the interested investors, Cadiz officials will make sure Negros Occidental will be the priority for whatever power that would be generated from these proposed power plants.