In Pangasinan, plans for 2nd coal power plant meet opposition
The Sual power station, Pangasinan’s first coal-fired power plant, produces 1,200 megawatts and is considered to be the country’s biggest power facility run by coal. WILLIE LOMIBAO
SUAL, PANGASINAN—A local environmental advocacy group on Thursday launched a signature campaign to stop the construction of another coal-fired power plant here.
The campaign is targeting the P47-billion plant to be built by Phinma Energy Corp. (formerly Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp.) in the coastal village of Baquioen.
The plant is expected to generate 900 megawatts of electricity for the Luzon grid.
The campaign will also be launched in neighboring Labrador town and Alaminos City, said Rosanna Marie Soriano, chair of the newly organized Save Sual Movement.
“We are opposing the construction of another power plant because we have not been consulted about it and because we have been suffering the effects of the first power plant,” said Soriano.
Original plant
This town hosts Team Energy’s 1,200-MW Sual power station, the country’s biggest coal-fired power plant located in Barangay Pangascasan, which began operating in 1999.
The town government endorsed the Phinma project last year when Mayor Roberto Arcinue signed a memorandum of agreement with Phinma Energy president Francisco Viray.
In a manifesto, Save Sual Movement said the construction of another power plant will endanger the lives of town residents because of the health risks and harmful environmental effects posed by coal.
The manifesto was addressed to President Duterte, Environment Secretary Gina Lopez, Gov. Amado Espino III, the Pangasinan provincial board and Arcinue.
Arcinue said he conducted six consultation meetings for the second power plant but nobody expressed opposition to the plant.
Phinma Energy is preparing a feasibility study, which is one of the requirements before it could apply for an environmental compliance certificate.
Arcinue said the second power plant will start construction in the first quarter of 2017. —GABRIEL CARDINOZA
