| RPE coal-fired power plant in Subic will produce toxic particulates that linger for decades and harm human health. Greenpeace sums it up with “STOP COAL!” |
SUBIC BAY Freeport: Officials and representatives of the Meralco-Aboitiz Group owned Redondo Peninsula Energy corporation, which is determined to build a coal-fired power plant in Subic despite widespread opposition, have snubbed a series of “social acceptability” forums organized by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, which governs this Freeport and the barangay in which the proposed coal power plant is to be located.
One of the main objections to the coal-fired power plant is that no consultations have been held as required by law before the RPEI received Department of Energy clearances and the SBMA license to clear the site and operate could be granted.
The social acceptability process was set by the SBMA to gauge the acceptance of the project by different sectors surrounding the Freeport and to determine if the present board would approve the proposal of RPE for an expansion from a 300MW to a 600MW power plant.
The process initiated by the SBMA board involves inviting LGU’s, locators, residents and indigenous people living around Subic to a dialogue together with experts on the environment and the officials of the Meralco-Aboitiz corporation working to build the plant.
SBMA Board of Director member Philip Camara has been leading the social acceptability process to ensure transparency of the project. He said RPE had called SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia saying that they would not be able to attend the forums.
“They were advised by their lawyers not to attend,” Camara added. Several forums have been held these last few weeks without RPE executives.
Ray Cunningham of RPE in a text message denied that his company snubbed the forum “While RP Energy was keen to participate in these fora, it could not do so under the invalid premise established by SBMA among those attending: namely, that RP Energy is subject to the social acceptability process as enacted by the SBMA board on Aug 11.”
“Our efforts to resolve this important issue satisfactorily with SBMA with in a limited time frame available were not successful; hence our participation would only have created further misunderstanding and confusion regarding the social acceptability process,” Cunningham added.
Ray Cunningham is a member of the steering committee of the RPE coal plant in Subic. He said there was no significant opposition to the project and that RPE has already conducted several information and education campaign in the last few months.
“One opposition here is extremely vocal and well financed and know how to get into the media but there is a lot of hard evidence to us that indicates it is not major opposition to this project.’ Cunningham explained.
Meanwhile last week some anti-coal protesters held a protest action along the Rizal Bridge of the Freeport prompting the SBMA Law Enforcement Department to close down the gate to the Freeport.
The protesters left after 20 minutes.
Leaders of the opposition groups, however, declare that RPE’s Cunningham is not correct when he claims there is no signififant opposition to the RPE coal-fired plant.
The entire group of Tourism related businesses in the Subic Bay Area, the Olongapo City government, the Zambales provincial government and more than two dozen NGOs in Olongapo City, the Subic Free Trade Zone and Zambales oppose the RPE plant.
The Manila Times published a special report on the RPE plant showing the environmental and health hazards posed by the plant and detailing the opposition of various private sector and government groups.
RPE executives were guests at a roundtable with Manila Times editors and reporters.
The eecent Subic Times story about the snub reported that when Cunningham was asked asked if Olongapo City, the Subic town council, the Zambales provincial government, and the SBMA do not consitute “ significant opposition,” Cunningham repliled, “We would prefer and continue to seek their support and endorsement in the long term.”
But he added that “endorsements from LGU or residents for a private project” are not part of the law.
“Our reason for wanting their approval and support was because we want to be a blessing in the community,” he added.
Another RPE executive or associated executive, Meralco Power Generation Corporation’s senior vice-president and head of commercial development Angelito Lantin, was reported by Subic Times to have said, “Bakit naman magkakaroon ng [Why would there be] significant opposition if we promise to build something and to operate it in a very environmentally friendly manner, so if we are building something that will kill people off course we will not build what we are building.”
Meanwhile, environmentalists and businessmen in Subic and Olongapo City, especially those in the hotel, restaurant and other tourism related businesses, are disturbed by reports that a South Korean firm now operating in this freeport is studying plans to build another coal-fired power plant.
The reported plant would cost $450 million.
This Times correspondent learned that Kepco Philippines Corp is planning to put up a 200 to 300 megawatts coal plant in Subic to supply electricity for shipbuilding giant Hanjin Heavy Industries located in the Redondo Peninsula inside the Subic freeport.
An official of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority who asked not to be named confirmed that they had received a request months ago to conduct a feasibility study for the said project.
The request however came from Hanjin and not from Kepco.
“They (Hanjin) did request for it and got an OK for a feasibility study for that, they requested permission to do an FS (feasibility study) on a coal power plant only for their shipbuilding needs” the official said in a text to Manila Times.
“I doubt if it is feasible to produce power for one locator only,” the official added.
Hanjin Heavy industry has reserved a 100-hectare piece of land near its facility for the project.
The Department of Energy Monday signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Korean Minister of Knowledge and Energy to start the feasibility study of Kepco for the project.
The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) came under fire from residents, LGUs, environmental groups and NGOs after it approved the construction of the RPEI Aboitiz-Meralco 300-MW coal power plant in sitio Naglatore along the Redondo peninsula.
The protesters cited health hazard, pollution and said that no consultation was done prior to the approval of the $1.2 billion 300-MW coal power plant project of Aboitiz Power Corporation.
Aboitiz is also planning to expand the 300-MW coal plant to 600 MW but has yet to secure an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).
SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia made it clear in earlier interview that the SBMA has not yet approved the expansion project and said that they (Aboitiz) must get the approval of DENR and pass the social acceptability process being conducted by the agency.
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