Friday 19th August, 2011 (Source: Sun Star Daily)
FIVE coal power plants to be built in Mindanao are expected to leave no room for renewable energy (RE) ventures in the near future, a global environmental group said.
These facilities, needed to supply energy to mines, cement factories, and shipyards, threaten the environment and the public health of communities as well, Greenpeace said. Another cause for worry is that mine sites are also militarized, all of which further fuel social conflict in the area, Greenpeace said.
As an alternative, Greenpeace proposed that the government immediately draw up plans for the massive deployment in Mindanao of renewable energy projects, which are more sustainable, compared to fossil fuels.
According to its report, “The Philippine Energy [R]evolution Roadmap to 2020”, as much as 80 percent of the energy requirements in Mindanao by 2020 can be met by renewable energy sources.
These include power sources such as wind, geothermal and solar, which are abundant in the area.
But these plans may take a while before being implemented.
A 200-megawatt project in Maasim, Sarangani is being proposed to be constructed. However, it threatens the rich Tinoto-Tampuan coral reef, which is now a protected area, the group said.
Other coal power projects set to be put up in Mindanao are the Aboitiz group’s 300-megawatt plant in Davao City; the 100-MW plant in Zamboanga City; the 300-MW plant by San Miguel Corp. in General Santos City, and the 500-MW by Sagittarius Mines Inc. in Malalag, Davao del Sur.
Burning coal also accelerates climate change effects in places like the Philippines, arguably one of the world’s most vulnerable and least prepared to deal with climate change, the group said.
Energy Undersecretary Jay Layug declined to comment on the matter as of this posting Friday.