MABALACAT, Pampanga - A consortium that will build three coal power plants with a combined capacity of 246 megawatts in Toledo City, Cebu, has assured it will make sure that nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide emissions from the facilities will be contained at a rate lower than industry standards.
This was discussed last Wednesday by Andel Bacalla, operations superintendent of the Asia Pacific Energy Corp. (Apec), during a tour for the Cebu media of the company’s power plant located within the TECO Special Economic Zone in Ma-balacat, Pampanga.
The power plants to be constructed by the consortium of the Aboitiz Power Corp., Vivant Energy Corp. and Metro-bank’s Global Business Power Corp. (Global Power) in Toledo City will be modeled after the Apec power plant, making it the second enclosed coal yard in the country.
Bacalla said that to reduce nitrogen dioxide (NOX), the Apec plant maintains an operating temperature of 900 degrees Celsius since NOX only forms if combustion is more than 1,400 degrees Celsius.
To address concerns about sulfur dioxide (SOX) emissions, Bacalla said the Apec plant uses limestone, which is injected into the bed boiler.
Coal, as its inherent quality, contains sulfur.
Bacalla said that based on constant monitoring system, the power plant only emits 282 milligrams of NOX and 262 milligrams (mg) of SOX.
The Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has set the allowable emission for NOX at 1,000 mg and 700 mg for SOX. The World Bank set the standard for NOX emissions at 750 mg and 2,000 mg for SOX.
Waste treatment
The DENR also conducts monthly checks on the emissions from the Apec power plant.
Since a similar technology will be used in the proposed power plants in Toledo City, Bacalla said the facilities will conform with environmental standards.
Aside from gas emissions, Bacalla showed to the group the company’s wastewater treatment facility, which removes contaminants from the plant’s sewage before disposal to avoid adverse effects on neighboring communities.
The Apec power plant is also able to convert its solid wastes into re-usable materials, such as the dry ash from its fly ash silo that is sold to cement factories.
The fly ash silo is installed with plates that trap flying ash.
Construction for the three power plants in Toledo City, Cebu will start by June but project proponents said they will soon launch an information drive about the facilities and clean coal technology in affected communities.
Bacalla said that when Apec started operating the Mabalacat plant in January, 2006, nearby residents complained. He said the people were pacified, though, after the company explained the plant’s pollution control facilities.
The three power plants proposed for Toledo City are expected to begin operating in 2010 and will increase Cebu’s power supply by that time. (DME)
