Sunstar Davao
THE absence of an alternative to coal as power source is making the country turn a deaf ear to health and environment concerns, while developed countries like the United States are cutting down on coal in deference to their people's opposition.
Dr. Randell Espina, Dean of Engineering Department of the Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU), pointed out that there has to be a balance between environment and health concerns and economic stability. But with no choice in sight, then coal power just has to be welcomed.
"We are developing our technology... hindi talaga maganda kung walang innovations, kung may option rather than using coal, then doon tayo pero wala eh," he said in a forum aimed to provide an objective perspective on the political, sociological, health and economic benefits and implications of a coal-fired power plant as an option of energy source held at the audio-visual room of Holy Cross of Davao College, in Davao City Monday. (It's not good not to have innovations. If we have the option not to use coal, of course we'll go for it. But there is none.)
Espina thus presented the different types of coal-fired power plants in the United States, including the fluidized bed coal plant, pulverized coal-fired power plants and the ideal coal-fired power plants, which are designed to reduce the adverse environmental impacts of coal plants.
But he also admitted that because of the American community's constant opposition to coal plants, the US has reduced its use of coal use to 11.96% from 2006 up to the present.
"Personally, I can say that I am against coal-fired power plants as well, but if we don't do anything, our energy sources cannot sustain our needs. Kung may wind energy and may mag-propose di doon tayo, kaya nga lang wala," he said.
Students from Holy Cross, along with students from John Paul College, Holy Cross of Mintal, and organizations including Kinaiyahan Foundation Inc. (KFI), Interface Development Interventions (IDIS), Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligal (Saligan), Alternative Forum for Research in Mindanao (Afrim), and The Sustainable Integrated Area Development Initiatives in Mindanao-Convergence for Asset Reform and Rural Development (Simcarrd) were conveners of the forum.
Lawyer Jennifer L. Ramos, chair of the committee on Environment of IBP-Davao, said Davao residents should not allow a coal plant to operate here as this emits mercury as byproduct.
"Nagkisi-kisi man gani ko ug adto sa Sarangani pagkadungog nako na magput up sila ug coal-fired power plant didto (I was up in arms when I heard that a coal-fired power plant will be put up in Sarangani), dito pa kaya that I was born here. I vowed to myself that I will be an environmentalist lawyer, and that is what I am now. No way," she said.
Ramos said that clean coal, as presented to the people of Davao, is an oxymoron.
She lists the biohazards as follows: greenhouse effect and the rise of global temperature that cause climate change, toxic emission like 80% of carbon dioxide gas coal-fired plants emit, and Sulfur and Nitrogen gases it also emits that becomes acid rain, the arsenic, lead and mercury poison which causes health and mental disorder for fetuses and or infants.
She said that studies have shown coal plants are the largest source of mercury emission because they emit 25 pounds of mercury a year for every 100 MW coal-fired power plant and it causes bioaccumulation (increase in concentration of a pollutant from the environment in the first organism in a food chain) and it biomagnificates (increase in concentration of a pollutant from one link in a food chain to another).
"Aboitiz is planning to build a 200 MW coal-fired power plant. Now can you imagine how many pounds of mercury it will emit and poison everything in Davao," she said.
In October this year, the Aboitiz Power Corporation presented to the media its US$400-million plan for a Circulating Fluidized-Bed Coal Power project, which will be the largest investment in the history of Davao.
Erramon Aboitiz, president and chief executive officer of the Aboitiz Group, during the presentation said that they have to take drastic actions because of the fast deteriorating power supply situation in Mindanao.
Aboitiz said from 2010 to 2014, they projected that the shortfall of the supply and demand of power in Mindanao will reach 484 megawatts.
"This shortfall is staggering as, based on present demand, this is equivalent to depriving power supply completely to five major Cities in Mindanao including Davao," he said during the media presentation in October. (Carmelle Marie Harrow)
Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on December 07, 2010.
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