THE Environment Management Bureau in Northern Mindanao is eyeing the carbon dioxide sink in a forest reserve as model project for coal-fired power plants to attain environment sustainability in southern Philippines.
Regional director Sabdullah Abubacar said that the carbon sink project in Mapawa Nature Park in Barangay Cugman, is the answer to the conflicting views between the industrialization of the country and the environment’s well-being.
"The carbon sink technology is simple. Once a coal-fired power plant is made by a specific company for example, that company will be mandated to plant trees to be the 'carbon sink' of this coal fired power plant. This means, that by their act of planting trees while being allowed to operate coal fired power plants, they are reducing the carbon footprint of our country and in the world," Sabdullah said.
In a recent statement, Environment secretary Gina Lopez expressed her preference for the use of renewable energy over dependence on fossil fuels, in sharp contrast to the Duterte administration’s goal of industrialization in the country.
Abubacar said that the installation of more coal-fired power plants not only in Mindanao but also in other parts of the country is imperative for the development of the country. The carbon sink technology, on the other hand, is the total solution for environmental concerns, he noted.
The Mapawa carbon sink was initiated in 2004 by the STEAG State Power Incorporated (SPI), operator of the 210-megawatt (MW) coal fired power plant in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental.
SPI Communications Officer Jerome Soldevilla said that in the first five years, they have planted 240, 000 trees. At present, the area already has 500, 000 endemic trees.
"We in STEAG can confidently say that unlike before, where we, Mindanaons repeatedly experience blackouts, now, these circumstances are lessened primarily because of the role that the coal fired power plants have in
this scenario. Renewable energies like wind, hydro, and solar are good in their own ways but if it comes to providing base energy resources for the community, coal will definitely give us power consistency," Soldevilla said.
Gabino Ramon Mejia of GNPower noted the difference in the cost of energy for consumers when buying energy produced by coal fired power plants as compared to energy bought from renewable energy.
"Energy produced from coal fired power plants is actually ccheaper than energy from renewable energy sources. For the consumer, this could mean a big thing because coal energy is only P3 per kilowatt-hour unlike solar
of wind which usually amounts up to P7 per kilowatt-hour. Imagine the significant difference," Mejia said.
Aside from its possible positive effects for the environment, Mejia also added the social gains that will come from erecting more coal fired power plants in the country.
Mejia said that in one full unit of a coal plant, about 4,000 jobs are generated.
Carbon sink sites like that of Mapawa Nature Park needs maintenance services, thus, more jobs are generated for residents in this city, added Mejia.
"If we can get support especially from the people from the government, where the seat of power is, I think that this idea can truly be a big step towards what we call sustainable development-the partnership of industrialization and environmental preservation," Sabdullah said.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier inaugurated the full operation of the 405-MW coal-fired power plant in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental, owned and
operated by Filinvest Development Corporation.