‘Clean coal’ pushed as energy source

MANILA, Philippines - Clean coal is clean enough to be kosher for the country’s foremost National Scientists.

This after the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) has included coal – clean coal – technologies, as one of the energy sources that should be tapped by the government to solve the power crisis gripping the country, particularly in the Mindanao region.

In a resolution the NAST issued at the end of their two-day 36th Annual Scientific Meeting at the Philippine International Convention Center this week, the National Scientists and academicians of the NAST said that the Department of Energy should promote clean coal technologies to provide coal power, particularly for baseload supply.

In their resolution addressed to the DOE, the NAST urged the department to “immediately implement programs and measures to improve the reliability and reduce the cost of energy, particularly electrical energy, through, among others, the promotion of clean coal technologies to provide base load (power).”

“In cooperation with the private sector, immediately implement the appropriate mix of base load, mid-merit and peaking load power plans in Mindanao, and connect the Mindanao grid to the Visayas and Luson grids,” the NAST urged the DOE.

The NAST, in their 36th ASM which carried the theme “Infrastructure, Information and Innovation for National Development, Competitiveness and Resiliency,” tackled the country’s high cost of electricity.