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Friday, January 07, 2005
Guv scores 'half-baked' info on coal plants
"LET us not be carried away by half-baked information about coal technology. Let us get the facts ourselves. Otherwise, our province might be doomed to a future of darkness."
This was the call of Governor Niel Tupas Sr. during his State of the Province Address Tuesday as he pushed for the entry of coal-fired power plants in Iloilo to address what the government warns as a looming power crisis in Panay.
Tupas did not explain what he means by "half-baked information" but it is apparent he is referring to the organized opposition to the coal-fired power plants led by the Responsible Ilonggos for Sustainable Energy (Rise).
Despite the proponents' claim of clean coal technology, Rise convenors insist there is no such thing.
Two 100-megawatt coal-fired power plants are being eyed in Iloilo.
In Concepcion, the proponent is DMCI Holdings Inc. while in Barotac Viejo, Mirant Philippines.
Mirant sponsored a two-day tour for provincial officials and the local media in their coal-fired power plant in Pagbilao, Quezon, which ends Friday.
"A critical challenge that we have to confront is the issue of power," he said as he pointed out that a study of competitiveness for cities showed Iloilo City scoring only 1 on a scale of 10 in a survey among businessmen on dependability and cost of power.
"What this means is that Iloilo has the highest cost of power among cities of its category. This fact is not the most flattering of all attributes for a growing city and province like Iloilo," Tupas said.
"And this should make us realize that we need to put up the infrastructure for our own power generation capability."
The governor added, "We have to realize that Iloilo cannot compete without adequate and cheaper power. That's the weakness of our province, and we have to address it frontally. I am asking this honorable body (referring to the Provincial Board) to keep an open mind about coal technology for power generation."
During the Capitol-sponsored Power Summit last November, Senate President Franklin Drilon and Energy Secretary Vicente Perez declared that the only choice for Panay is coal to address its baseload power requirements.
Last March, the Provincial Board rejected the proposal of Kepco Philippines Corp. to construct a coal-fired power plant in Banate following massive protests.
Tupas later on supported the resolution.
(January 7, 2005 issue)
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