Perez made the assurance after Iloilo residents and environmentalists raised concerns on the possible ill effects of the emissions of the coal-fired power plant in their province.
But Perez said Kepco’s power plant will adopt the latest circulating fluidized bed boiler design and modern technology.
"The circulating fluidized bed boiler coal-fired power plant burns mixture of coal and limestone at a low temperature of 850-950 degrees celsius thus preventing environmental pollution. The low combustion temperature reduces the nitrogen oxide emissions to safe levels while the limestone burned with coal will result to sulfur capture and will prevent sulfur oxide emissions," he said.
He said the proposed coal-fired power plant will use the high-grade coal of Semirara Coal Corp. in Caluya, Antique.
According to Perez, even advanced countries such as the US and Germany, where environment standards are more rigid, get more than 50 percent of their electricity requirements from coal.
"We have to strike a balance between sustainability and stability here. Panay Island is in dire need of additional supply come 2004. We have to put additional power plants there and as a fuel source, coal is one of the most cost effective. Any disruption in power supply will have adverse effects on the economy and lives of people in the Island of Panay. That is the least that we do not want to happen," he said.
At the same time, Perez stressed that the proponents of coal-fired power plants in the country have been following the lead of more advance countries in putting up pollution control facilities both for air and water. "Health, safety and environment are something that the energy sector cannot compromise," Perez said.
In a recent Word Wide Fund study, coal technologies such as fluidized coal were shown to have lower carbon dioxide emissions than even gasoline oil turbine.