by Myrna Velasco August 31, 2016
Moving ahead of the planned
technical audit of its counterpart-agency, the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR) had already started undertaking spot inspections at
coal-fired power plants to check on their emissions’ compliance and overall
operational efficiencies.
The coal plant operators have
confirmed the “spot checks” being carried out by the environment department,
which was reported to have been ongoing for almost a month already.
Compared to the more comprehensive
audit proposed by the Department of Energy (DOE), however, the DENR initiative
is seen more focused this time on the coal plants.
There have been growing tension over
the increasing capacities of coal plants to meet the country’s energy needs,
hence, oversight and regulatory agencies have been tightening controls over
emissions and operational standards of such facilities.
On the part of the DOE, it announced
just days back that it tapped the expertise of mechanical engineers on its
propounded technical audit of all power generating facilities in the country –
starting with the recently problematic Luzon grid.
The department noted that “public
interest demands an appropriate intervention from both the government and the
private sector to ensure consumer protection.”
Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi
sealed the engagement with the Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers
(PSME) to become part of the audit process. It will reinforce the department’s
team that was first boosted by the participation of the Integrated Institute of
Electrical Engineers (IIEE) on its scrutiny of the entire chain of the power
system.
The PSME will also be rendering
services on pro-bono basis – and they will be integrated in the team to examine
the generation, transmission and distribution facilities of the energy sector.
Cusi said “the DOE is determined to
immediately address the recurring challenges in the power supply chain that
affects the productivity of our people.”
How things pan out is something that
Cusi and his new team will have to prove and deliver to the Filipino people –
especially with the level of confidence they have been exhibiting that the ills
of the power sector will be resolved during their tenure.
There is no definite timeframe yet
on the complete duration of the audit and what parameters are set relative to
the activity.
Resulting policy improvements as
well as enforcement of improved standards are expected as outcome of the
technical audit process.
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