Gwen visits power plant in Taiwan to be assured of clean coal technology

CEBU - TAIPEI – Governor Gwendolyn Garcia personally visited the Formosa Heavy Industries plant to personally witness how the plant works, as it expands its reach through the construction of a coal-fired power plant in Cebu. 

Four companies - the Aboitiz Power Corporation, Formosa Heavy Industries Corp., Global Business Power Corporation and Vivant Power Corporation will be investing in a multi-million 246-megawatt coal fired power plant in Barangay Sangi, Toledo City to address a looming power crisis in Cebu.

The consortium officials had assured that the power plant will use clean coal technology that is reportedly safe to the environment, thus, Garcia personally visited Taiwan to see this for herself. 

Last Wednesday, Garcia visited the Hwa-Ya power plant in Taoyuan City located beside a semiconductors factory owned by an American-German Consortium. Yesterday, the governor also paid the Zin-Shin power plant a visit, which, interestingly, is situated at the back of a shopping mall. 

In a brief presentation, officials of FHI said the company put up investments in pollution control equipment to address environmental concerns like air quality, water quality, and safety. The FHIC has been successful in removing or, at the very least, minimizing nitrogen oxide (NOx) and Sulfur Oxide (SOx) and dust emissions in its coal power plants.

The Taiwan government monitors the operation of all their plants by having direct access to their computerized control panels to ensure that the plants do not exceed the required standard for emission levels.

All of FHIC’s coal power plants use an enclosed coal conveyor system- an electrostatic precipitator, which catches solid particulates; continuous emission monitoring system (CEMS); continuous opacity monitoring system (COMS); waste water treatment facility; and the latest circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler technology.

“Our main concern is the environment,” Garcia said, adding that putting up a plant “is a risk” to the people living in the area and to the environment as a whole. The risk would be further aggravated if other companies would follow suit and heighten competitiveness.

There are two 100-megawatt coal-fired power plants to be built by Salcon Power Corp. and Korean Electric Philippines Co. in Naga City, which are expected to be completed in 2011.

“It’s a risk that you have to take in building your plant in our province but you have to be sure that it will not destroy our environment,” Garcia said, as she acknowledged that additional power plants are necessary because Cebu is reportedly at risk of experiencing power outages in the coming years.

 Provincial Board Member Victor Maambong, chairperson of the committee on environment and natural resources, said that some conditions will be imposed when the plant will be operational. The construction is slated to begin in January 2009 until early 2010. — Garry B. Lao/JMO (THE FREEMAN)