Coal plant shelving to cause massive brownouts, DoE warns

The Department of Energy (DoE) warned the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) that any postponement to the proposed 600-MW coal plant inside the freeport may lead to massive blackouts in Luzon within the next five years.

Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras said he discussed this with SBMA Administrator Roberto Garcia and emphasized the vital need for increased capacity in the Luzon power grid.

“I met with them to explain how important it is to build another power plant. We really cannot afford not to have a new power plant by 2015,” he said.

SBMA is opposed to the construction of the coal plant due to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions that may adversely affect the health of communities and the environment in Subic.

Almendras said however that the latest technology can mitigate CO2 emissions as exemplified by the 660-MW Masinloc coal plant.

“The question of whether it will be polluting or not has already been answered. Masinloc is one of the cleanest coal plants in the world,” he said.
The Energy secretary said the Aquino administration is committed to provide energy security in the next five years.

Long-time Zambales resident Roger Bound, a founding member of the Zambales Resort Owners Association and director of the organization’s life-saving program, said the large majority of local resort owners and businessmen also support the project.

Bound explained, “aside from the steady and reliable stream of electricity, the economic advantages of the multibillion-peso project will also be a great boon to the local community. Not to mention that the technology to be used is state-of-the-art and environment-friendly.”

Bound added that with the huge increase of electricity usage in Central Zambales in the last three years alone, they are all becoming concerned that the country will go back to the years of rolling brownouts that Filipinos experienced in the 90s.

“Most local businesses here especially resorts and leisure parks would suffer financially if that were to occur again,” he said.

The Subic coal plant is being developed by Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc. It will use two single high-efficiency 300-MW units for a total net generating capacity of 600 MW.

The project is estimated to cost $1.28 billion. –Daily Tribune