CLIMATE activists have slammed Aboitiz Power Corporation and Jera, Japan’s largest power generation company, for alleged continued promotion of fossil gas in Asia.
Lidy Nacpil, coordinator of Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD) and convenor of the Asian Energy Network (AEN), called Jera’s energy strategy “deceptive and dishonest.”
“Instead of phasing out fossil fuels, this company covers up its transgressions by promoting false solutions to the climate crisis, such as LNG plants and the use of fossil hydrogen and ammonia,” said Nacpil.
“The use of hydrogen and ammonia to generate power is being touted as ‘clean energy solutions’ despite the fact that these plants still generate greenhouse gas emissions as a byproduct and its potential to be co-fired with coal and LNG means it essentially extends the lifespan of fossil fuel plants,” added Nacpil.
APMDD and member organizations, Sanlakas, Oriang, and Kabuhayan Kalusugan Kalikasan Katiyakan Sa Paninirahan (K4K QC) dramatized their protest rally by carrying placards with “No More Jurassic Jera” written all over it, emphasizing “that fossil fuels are causing climate change and its impacts are harming health, lives and livelihoods of people in many parts of the world.”
“Jera’s entire operations run on fossil fuel in contradiction with its own narrative of pursuing decarbonization and also in contradiction with the finding of the International Energy Agency that we can’t have new oil and gas fields anymore,” said Nacpil in a statement to the media.
According to the groups, Jera “is the sponsor of the ongoing Singapore International Energy Week.”
“Its ‘Zero CO2 Emissions 2050’ roadmap Includes investments in Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) plants and ammonia and hydrogen technologies. LNG plants emit carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gasses during the course of its operations,” APMDD said.
“In 2021, Jera acquired a 27 percent stake in AboitizPower for USD1.46 billion. Both companies have publicly supported developing new LNG projects including fuel sourcing,” it added.
Meanwhile, APMDD said similar mobilizations were staged in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Australia, Japan, and the United States “as part of a series of protests against Jera and their energy strategy.”
APMDD recalled the warning of the International Energy Agency (IEA) in 2021, with the world's leading energy organization saying that exploitation and development of new oil and gas fields must stop that year and no new coal-fired power stations can be built if the world is to stay within safe limits of global heating and meet the goal of net zero emissions by 2050. (SunStar Philippines)