DENR starts audit of coal power plants

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.