DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/08 January) – Building coal-fired power plants is necessary to respond to Mindanao’s power needs even as the country is developing renewable energy projects to mitigate the effects of climate change, President Benigno S. Aquino III on Friday said.
Speaking at the inauguration of the coal-fired power plant of Therma South Inc., a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power, Aquino emphasized the need to build more baseload power plants that can be tapped anytime “rain or shine, with very minor fluctuations.”
He lashed at critics who opposed the construction of coal-fired power plants due to its potential risks to the environment.
“They (Aboitiz Power) did all this even in the face of harsh critics who would speak loudly against us during the dry period—when the hydropower production is low—and completely forget about the issue during the rainy season. These critics also made the most unreasonable demands: cheap, renewable, and sufficient energy, delivered yesterday,” he said in a three-page speech.
Aquino was the guest of honor during the inauguration of the plant at Toril District in Davao City.[]/a> with |||
The team was composed of non-government organizations, government agencies and regulators.
The power firm partnered with the indigenous people to establish a carbon sink management program in Marilog, Davao City.
Aboitiz said the company infused a total of P35 billion for the completion of TSI’s two units, and employed over 4,500 coming from its host communities at its peak.
The 150-MW of TSI 1 started commercial operation last September 2015 while the 150-MW TSI 2 is currently undergoing “reliability test” before it will go on commercial operation next month.
A total of 100 MW has been contracted to Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC), another fully-owned subsidiary of Aboitiz Power, while the rest will be delivered to over 20 electric cooperatives and distribution utilities in Caraga, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, parts of Bukidnon, parts of Misamis and parts of Zamboanga Peninsula, Aboitiz said. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)
