By Louise Maureen Simeon (The
Philippine Star) | Updated August 18, 2016 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines – The Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is expected to start within the
month the audit of coal-fired power plants to determine their compliance with
environmental standards.
Environment Undersecretary Leo
Jasareno said the agency was already crafting the guidelines and criteria for
the audit of coal-fired power plants, with focus on the conditions given to
firms that obtained environmental compliance certificates (ECCs).
“We’ll start to audit coal fired
power plants. We are just finalizing the guidelines and we’ll start within this
month,” Jasareno said.
Although applications of new coal
plants are coursed through the Department of Energy (DOE), they must first
secure an ECC from the DENR before commencing operations.
Coal accounts for about a third of
the country’s current total energy mix.
There are currently 13 operating
coal-fired plants, 12 under construction and 13 existing new applications.
First on Environment Secretary Gina
Lopez’s list is the Consunji-led Semirara Mining and Power Corp., the country’s
largest coal mine, which was directed to explain why its ECC for its Molave
expansion plant in Antique should not be cancelled.
Lopez has been firm on her stand
against coal projects and continues to push for renewable energy as base load
power.
Meanwhile, the DENR is on track to
complete its separate audit on all 42 mines in the country within the month as
part of its crackdown on illegal mining.
To date, the DENR has suspended 10
mining companies for violation of environmental standards.
“When the smoke clears, after the
review, what we will have is a roster of responsible miners,” Jasareno said.
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