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First Posted on Inside Mindanao (www.insidemindanao.com) on July 19, 2008

Coal–fired power plant project in Sarangani faces mounting opposition
By Bong S. Sarmiento

MAASIM, SARANGANI—As local officials appeal to constituents to back the Alcantara-led coal-fired power plant project, critics initiate information and education campaign against the project.

Last July 11, Maasim officials held a public forum and appealed to constituents to back the coal–fired power plant project. The following day, the local Catholic Church–led opposition initiated an information and education campaign on the possible ill–effects of the project to the environment and the human health.

Conal Holdings announced last month that it will build the Kamanga Power Plant project, which will initially generate 200 megawatts of electricity by 2011 with two incremental expansions of 350 MW over a period of 15 years.

Conal Holdings is a partnership between the Alcantara group and the Electricity Generating Public Company, a unit of Thailand's biggest power producer, with 60–40 shareholdings, respectively.

"Let them be. It's still a long battle to go," said Fr. Romeo Q. Catedral, social action director of the Diocese of Marbel, hinting a continuous campaign against the coal–fired power plant.

Keith Kristoffer P. Bacongco campaigns paralegal for the environment group Legal Rights & Natural Resources Center–Kasama sa Kalikasan, urged the local government to hold a referendum if the people would really want the coal–fired power plant project in the town.

Bacongco belied the "clean coal technology" mouthed by the project proponent.

"Coal itself is dirty. Even the most advanced countries, like the United States, have yet to perfect that clean coal technology... Clean coal technology is just an advertising slogan," Bacongco said.

Earlier, Chris Dearne, a British expatriate on top of an artificial reef dome project in Sarangani Bay, expressed opposition to the putting up of a coal–powered station in this town.

"You can build up the most modern power plant but coal will still create problems to the environment and I think that constructing such a plant on the edge of Sarangani Bay can only be bad news for the coral reefs which are some of the finest in the country," he said.

Saying there are new technologies now to address such problems, Dearne clarified he is not against the development of coal–fired power plant by Conal.

"I am not against this plant but I believe that the location [Maasim] where the survey work is taking place is a poor choice environmentally," Dearne said.

He feared the destruction of diving spots in this town will come if the coal gets wet and the run off water go to the sea, spoiling the environment for years to come.

Meanwhile, Mayor Aniceto P. Lopez, Jr. said the locality is now ready to accept big–ticket investments such as the coal–fired power plant to further spur the economic development of this coastal town.

"I appeal to our people to support the coal–fired power plant project. This is will be the answer to the problem of our town which is dependent on IRA [Internal Revenue Allotment]. The project will also generate employment," he later told reporters at the sidelines of the forum.

The Sangguniang Bayan is in the process of passing a resolution endorsing the coal–fired power plant, he said, adding the country has laws that address environmental abuses and that the project will only be allowed to operate if the proponents will be given the necessary clearances.

Lopez said there are "modern technologies now that can address pollution issues in as far as coal–fired plant operations are concerned."

When asked for specific details on the benefits (outside the usual requirements of the law) that the local government unit could get from the coal–fired power plant of Conal Holdings Corp., Lopez declined to comment "pending further negotiations" with the company.

Joseph C. Nocos, Conal Holdings vice president, earlier gave assurances that the project will comply with national and international environment guidelines.

"We can't let our massive investments go down the drain by being irresponsible in our operations," the company official said.

Construction of the first phase will take three years and would employ at least 1,000 laborers and 300 regular workers during the operation stage, the company said in a statement.

Mindanao has an existing generating capacity of 1,850.4 MW beginning 2008 but the dependable capacity is only 1,520 MW. Peak demand starting this year is projected to hit 1,440 MW.

END