Toledo coal plant using materials hazardous to health, environment

Mirant Global Corporation officials admitted that their plant in Toledo City utilizes raw materials that contain toxic metals detrimental to people's health and the environment.

However, the company has claimed that it is doing its best to prevent the emission of toxic by-products into the air.

In a letter to the committee on environment of the Toledo City council, Leah Diaz, manager of the environmental and technical services division of MGC, said they are committed to comply with all of the environmental rules and regulations for the "preservation of the environment and protection of public health."

According to her, their proposed project would use the latest generation in clean coal technologies, which would reduce emission of trace metals, oxides of sulfur, oxides of nitrogen and dust, explaining further that they would be using state of the art environmental technologies to preserve the environment and minimize impacts.

Diaz said their proposed plant would be using coal from Semirara and some Cebu suppliers. "Just like other substances and materials mined from the earth, these coals contain trace metals such as mercury, arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium, and other elements. When these undergo combustion, our proposed technology is capable of capturing, if not, minimizing releases to the atmosphere," she said.

MGC responded to the letter-query of the Toledo city council on the proposed expansion project of its coal-fired power plant.

In a letter, the city council, headed by environment committee chairman Caesar Ian Zambo informed the officials of the power plant about the council's resolution asking the project proponent to make sure that their plant would not endanger the health of the people and the environment.

The council asked Mirant to guarantee that the coal mix feed to the existing and expanded plant shall contain no toxic metals, install devices that capture gaseous and particulate pollutants and anti-pollution devices, continue monitoring their emissions and discharges and monitoring air quality.

The council would also request the City Health Office about the data on the frequency and severity of asthma and upper respiratory tract infection to determine if emissions from the coal-fired power plant have affected the surrounding community. A three-man team representing the government, environmental protection group, and business sector will be formed to monitor the operation of Mirant's plant.

Mirant, the biggest independent power producer in the country, plans to add another 220-megawatt plant to expand its existing 75-megawatt plant in Toledo city.

But several environmental groups expressed opposition because "Mirant's plant in Toledo City is already dangerously emitting substances that are bad for the health and environment." - Wenna A. Berondo