Greenpeace hits Aquino gov’t over Cebu coal-fired plant

MANILA, Philippines—The environmental group Greenpeace criticized the government Wednesday for going “gray” instead of “green” with its choice of energy sources, after President Aquino led the inauguration of a new coal-fired power plant in Cebu.

Amalie Obusan, climate and energy campaigner for Greenpeace, pointed out that burning coal for power generation has been a huge contributor to climate change, the impacts of which (heavy rains and flooding) are now largely being felt by the Philippines and the rest of the world.

“Instead of relying on short-sighted, reactive measures, (Mr. Aquino) should focus on long-term solutions that benefit everyone by delivering energy security and energy access for all. Instead of continuously promoting coal, Mr. Aquino must take this golden opportunity to make sure the massive uptake of renewable energy is realized here in the Philippines,” Obusan said in a statement.

The recently inaugurated facility is owned and operated by Kepco-SPC Power Corp., a joint venture between Korea Electric Power Corp. and SPC Power Corp. It is also the country’s second coal facility to go online this year.

“Earlier this month, the President graced the DOE’s grand launch of the National Renewable Energy Program. While the nation anxiously waits for the President to act on his bold statements (on extensive use of renewable energy sources), the President is losing focus by inaugurating coal power stations in the provinces,” the group said.

Greenpeace said that should Mr. Aquino “continue to consider coal as part of the energy mix of the country, then the legacy he leaves Filipinos is another 30 years of pollution and carbon dioxide emissions—not to mention the extra costs to deal with the health impacts.”

The group is now urging the Philippine government to scrap all new proposals for coal-fired and nuclear power plants, and shift those investments to the development of the renewable energy sector and energy efficiency measures.

According to Greenpeace, coal is the biggest obstacle to a clean, secure energy future. The lack of urgency and political will on the part of the President makes the Philippines Southeast Asia’s laggard on renewable energy development, it added.

“Key decision makers such as local government units should exercise extreme caution and refuse the offer of this whole broken notion of cheap power from coal.  Coal is a finite resource and will inevitably raise prices in the future, not to mention the external costs on health, water resources and climate change,” Obusan said.