Coal-fired power plant gets guv’s backing

NEGROS Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said he is supporting plans to put up a coal-fired power plant in Cadiz City.

"We badly need that coal-fired plant as soon as possible, as power shortage is looming," Marañon said.

The governor pointed out that a number of investors have signified their intentions of putting up coal-fired power plants in the province but the projects did not push through because of the strong opposition from the church and environmental groups.

Two companies have been seriously considering the plans of putting up a total of 170 megawatts coal-fired plants at the port zone of Cadiz City located in Barangay Banquerohan.

Mayor Patrick Escalante of Cadiz City said that the port zone area has been identified as the ideal site for coal-fired plants because the port can facilitate the transport of the coal from Indonesia and Semirara Island in Antique to the proposed power plant.

He said Cadiz officials have been invited to visit Taiwan to observe the operation of the cleanest coal-fired power plant.

Escalante also said that the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) has already approved the reclamation of a 50-hectare area at the Port Zone. The area will be utilized for the coal-fired power plants, as well as for the economic and industrial zone of the city.

Pacific Energy Ventures is eyeing a 100-megawatt coal-fired plant in Cadiz, while Philippine Power Corporation is also interested in establishing a 70-megawatts coal-fired plant in the city.

Escalante said that the investors are also set to discuss with the officials of three electric distribution utilities in the province, namely Ceneco, VRESCO and Noceco, about their plans and to explore the possibility to be assured of the power contracts for the power to be generated by the respective companies in the coal-fired plants.

Esalante said that they expect the total completion of the said projects before year 2015. (Teresa D. Ellera)