Manila Times.net
THE Department of Energy (DOE) is pushing the power industry in Mindanao to tap the region’s coal resources to plug the grid’s demand-supply gap.
Ramon Oca, DOE assistant secretary, said Mindanao has enough coal reserves to supply 740 megawatts for 25 years.
The coal supply can be tapped from the mine site at Barangay Ned, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, which has estimated reserves of up to 70 million metric tons.
The area is covered by coal operating contracts held by Daguma Agro-Minerals Inc., Sultan Energy Philippines Corp., and Bonanza Energy Resources Inc. for development and production.
To assuage the sentiments of environmentalists and communities likely to endure the adverse impact of a coal plant, Oca said mining companies should use safe methods of mining and rehabilitate the mined areas.
“The coal power plant to be built, on the other hand, shall make use of the fluidized bed technology which involves efficient combustion process to control air pollutants without the need of installing external emission controls,” he said.
The country’s second largest island group relies on hydroelectric plants for more than half of its power generating capacity of over 1,300 megawatts.
Energy Secretary Jose Rene Alemendras said the failure of one plant in Mindanao would threaten the supply of the region because of thin reserves.EUAN PAULO C. AÑONUEVO
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