Tuesday, June 14, 2011
BY YEAR 2030, the whole Mindanao will experience a 2500 megawatts energy shortage, an official of the Department of Energy (DOE) in Davao Region said Monday.
But that is presuming that not one company will be interested to invest in this profitable utility.
This was the reply of Antonio De Guzman, Chief of Science Research Specialist of DOE Davao Region, to clamors of environmentalists against coal-fired power plants.
De Guzman, who was one of the keynote speakers on AboitizPower Exhibit at the atrium of the SM City that will last until June 20, said if the establishment of several power plant of whatever nature will be barred, chances are, the projection will actually happen.
He said they learned of the projected energy crisis during the latest energy audit that was conducted last month by the DOE.
For De Guzman, this crisis can only be avoided if various local government units (LGUs) will allow and welcome the installations of various power sources be it coal-fired, fuel, and whatever any investor may want to put in.
"We have to come up with a clear Energy mix to ensure that there should be enough alternative energy sources," De Guzman said saying that the government alone cannot provide for the country's energy needs.
With the significantly high economic development rate of Mindanao especially Davao City, this also means that there will be a bigger demand for power here to keep in pace with its economic growth.
He insisted that unlike the major power source of the country today, which is hydro-power, coal-fired power plant can operate and power the city even during dry seasons.
Boyet Quinto, chair of Agricultural Business of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce Inc. (DCCCII) agreed with de Guzman saying power shortage will discourage businessmen from investing in the city.
Quinto said Aboitiz, just like any big entity that has been tested for centuries won't risk its reputation by establishing a power plant which will endanger health and lives of people.
For various environmental groups like the No To Coal-Davao, the energy crisis that DOE has been drumming up is just intended to create panic so and condition people to accept whatever kind of power-generating utility is introduced, including those that destroy the environment.
Juland Suazo, Convenor of No To Coal-Davao, earlier told Sun.Star Davao that they will only accept the reality of power shortage if the report will be coming from an energy audit initiated by the City Council or some other group whose sole interest is Davao City and not from entities that have vested interest in power generation.
But the council has remained mum on initiating a energy audit that will put to end the issues raised by various environmental groups.
Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on June 14, 2011.
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