Power cost or lack of it: Country’s toughest foe

The world, admittedly, is dominated by a single and most debilitating word today, crisis. Be it in the bigger stage like the economy or political turmoil or the more specifics, such as, food, power or water, this is the most famous word every tongue speaks. These crises are prevalent, felt and withstood till near submission by every citizen. Quite frankly, unless we become masochists, we will never get the feeling of contentment from the consequences of these menaces.

In us, we may be able to safely say that the economy is doing well. However, the fact remains that energy-related issues, such as the volatility of oil prices and the ever increasing cost of electricity have remained to hound us. Notably, the country has remained a title contender in the “highest cost of electricity contest” in Asia, the other being Japan, the world’s third largest economy.

As election nears, these concerns may not be addressed at all by government leaders/politicians as they focus their energies on winning voters and supporters to their fold. As we all know, even in the All Souls’ break, some politicians, amid many concerns, were just too preoccupied on either fending off attacks on their persons or are extensively doing EPAL moves for visibility despite COMELEC’s warnings. Unfortunately, as what had been the norm, whatever problems or concerns (like the worsening power shortage and the volatility of oil prices) we raise at this time will just get the usual buck passing and sugar-coated lip service.

Today, the lingering and often set aside rising power cost and the worsening lack of it are felt all over the country. We had ours (power shortage) in Cebu several months ago. Though the situation is seemingly normal these days, there is absolutely no reason to rejoice. This is just a result of a temporary solution.

Mindanao is badly hit. Reportedly, at a recent stakeholders’ conference, it was established that despite the multi-million peso rehabilitation works of Pulangui Power Plant IV in Maramag, Bukidnon, and the Agus 6 hyrdoelectric plant in the Agus River in Lanao del Norte, Mindanao still lack 200 megawatts. Knowing fully well that on February 23, 2010, Mindanao’s generation deficit posted its biggest single day rise to 358 megawatts, then these two plants’ rehabilitation wasn’t enough.

Consequently, since 2010, brownouts prompted residents to use gas lamps and businessmen to run their factories with generators. Considering the prices of diesel these years, Mindanao’s factories had to bear the brunt of higher manufacturing cost. Thus, they have become less competitive. To address this concern, three major coal-fired power plants are being considered now in Mindanao.

Likewise, in Cebu, we will soon be in the same position as in Mindanao. With all these ongoing developments, like condominiums, subdivisions and IT Parks, we shall soon feel the lack of it. From the looks of it, the only feasible alternative is another coal-fired power plant.

Though most of us maybe one in admitting that this coal-powered plant can solve this ongoing power shortage, other sectors are not taking this development sitting down. Some environmentalists will surely take the cudgels of opposing the operations of these coal-fired power plants.

Truth to tell, there have been several environmental disasters attributed to coal-fired power plants. In recent memory, one has unfolded on December 22, 2008 in Kingston, Tennessee. On the other hand, it is not all bad for the coal residues too. An innovative application has been employed by Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA) to recycle both the bottom ash and fly ash from two new Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) boilers as a stabilizer for non-cohesive sands, which are typical of north Florida.

Indeed, a coal-fired power plant and its residues, just like other wastes, have its threats and opportunities. Setting aside biases, it now rests in us on how to mitigate the threats and take advantage of the opportunities.