'Pacquiao misinformed on power plant'

The company planning to build a $450-million power plant in Maasim, Sarangani said that world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao was misinformed about the project.

Pacquiao, who is running for congressman in Sarangani, opposed the construction of the coal-fired plant because of potential damage to the environment.

Conal Holdings vice president for business development Joseph Nocos said the 200-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant will use modern technology that will keep emissions and particulates well within the limits required by the Philippine Clean Air Act.

“The concerns raised by Pacquiao are more than adequately addressed by the design and technology of our power station,” Nocos explained.

Pacquiao is the executive director of Task Force Luwas Kinaiyahan (TFLK), or “save the environment” in the Cebuano dialect.

TFLK, which claims they have Pacquiao’s full support, suggested using the jathropa plant as biomass feed for the power plant, but Conal Holdings said this was impractical.

“We might as well plant jathropa in every inch of land in Sarangani to fire up our boilers if we go by the suggestion of Pacquiao’s advisers to use jathropa,” Nocos said.

While jathropa can be used to produce biodiesel that could be mixed with petroleum diesel, the technology to economically produce and refine this feedstock has yet to be developed and put to commercial use.

According to the scientific journal Nature, “none of the jathropa species has been properly domesticated and, as a result, its productivity is variable, and the long-term impact of its large-scale use on soil quality and the environment is unknown.”

Jathropa consumes four times more water than sugar cane and corn, according to Times Online, raising questions on its sustainability.

Conal Holdings said based on its studies, there are no readily available hyro or geothermal sources in the region that could generate 200 MW of electricity.

“Still, we are planning to build a 17-MW three-tiered mini-hydro plant along the Siguel River in Maasim and possibly another 35-MW plant along Kalaong River in Maitum, all in Sarangani,” Nocos further revealed.

“There is absolutely no basis to the claim that our plant will produce acid rain,” Nocos noted.

He added the power station will use low-sulfur coal and the circulating fluidized bed combustion technology that it will use will effectively capture the sulfur dioxide that causes acid rain.

“We are committed to keep our emissions at levels way below the ceilings set by the Philippine Clean Air Act and the World Bank standards,” he explained.

Nocos also said their commitment to establish a 7,500-hectare watershed and reforestation development program to mitigate carbon dioxide emission is borne out of the company’s commitment to the fight against global warming.

“Ultimately, the best proof that our power station is safe for the environment and for people is the preponderance of similar plants that have been operating in the United States, Japan, South Korea, and other developed countries for years with outstanding environmental compliance and safety records.”