DOE tightens rules on coal-fired power plants

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Energy (DOE) is eyeing to impose stricter standards on coal-fired power plants to contribute to climate change mitigation programs and the country’s commitment to lessen carbon emissions.

Energy Secretary Zenaida Monsada said the agency is meeting with coal plant operators and generators for the imposition of strict standards on emissions and fuel quality.

“While we still allow coal plants, they should have the latest technology so emissions are much reduced,” she said.

The standards will also cover storage handling distribution because a lot of generators and operators store coal in open areas, the Energy chief noted.

This statement came after the Aquino administration was slammed for supporting coal plants even as the country joined global efforts in addressing the effects of climate change.

However, Monsada said the country still needs power baseload supply from coal-fired plants. Baseload power plants are power generating facilities that can operate reliably and efficiently generating electricity 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“We need power that’s why we need coal plants. The task of DOE is to ensure that we have sufficient, reliable power. Right now, because of investments in the power sector are private sector driven, coal presents the least cost, fastest and biggest supply choice so far,” the DOE official said.

She noted, however, the use of coal plants will be corrected in the future, with enough baseload power from the current line up of coal-fired facilities being built.

DOE data showed the Philippines will see nearly 5,000 megawatts (MW) of new power plants being built until 2020, of which over over 70 percent are coal-based.

In its report, environment group Greenpeace said coal plant emissions may cause over 2,400 premature deaths in the country.

Under the DOE’s current fuel mix policy, the country should source 30 percent of its energy requirements from coal, 30 percent from renewable energy and another 30 percent from natural gas. The remaining 10 percent will come from oil-based power plants.