Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras on Thursday assured the government will observe measures to protect the environment with the construction of coal-fired power plants.
In a forum at Sulo Hotel in Quezon City, Almendras admitted the harmful effects of coal to environment but said there are ways to mitigate its negative impacts.
He made the statement after environmentalists are calling for the government to stop putting up coal-fired power plants, particularly in energy crisis-stricken Mindanao and implement renewable energy solutions instead.
“There’s enough technology today to lessen the negative impact of coal. I’ll not go to every town and say we’ll put up a coal power plant… we’ll make sure that the negative environment impacts will be handled properly,” he said.
Almendras said coal-fired power plants are part of the government’s short-term solutions to address energy problems in Mindanao.
“Kaya tayo nagtatayo ng (Why we establish) coal-fired power plants is because we need electricity two to five years from now because they are fast, cheap and doable today,” he said.
Almendras said the plan to add 10,000 megawatts of renewable energy sources by 2030 is attainable but noted that it has to be done slowly.
“Para hindi mabigla (It should not be abrupt). Some renewable energy sources ay mahal pa (are expensive),” he said.
In the same forum, DoE Undersecretary Jose Layug Jr. said they hope to award more coal operating contracts to investors.
Environment group Greenpeace questioned the DoE’s move to push for the construction of a coal-fired power plant saying it poses harm to the environment.
The group said development of renewable energy sources would be enough to meet Mindanao’s energy shortfall. [PNA]
