CEDC to use earth-friendly means to produce power

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Energy Development Corporation will be producing 246 megawatts in 2010 but as early as yesterday, CEDC president Jesus Alcordo assured environmentalists that the company will be using technology that would not harm the environment.

In a press conference, Alcordo said CEDC will be using state-of-the-art technology, which would defy the notion that coal ash is detrimental to the health of the people, as it emits dust and other toxic elements.

He said this notion “belongs to the old technology.”

“We as a company, in preserving the environment, we have no quarrel with the environmentalists. We are open and transparent as far as environmental performance is concerned,” Alcordo said.

He said CEDC is looking at several options in handling coal ash, among which is to supply the same to cement plants, as calcium carbonate present in coal ash is one of the additives for cement and to supply it to hollow block factories.

Alcordo said CEDC has partnered with the Toledo Power Company for a livelihood legacy program called “Kabilin” for a “sustainable and reliable power plant operations.” Among the activities the program will undertake are tree planting, livelihood development, and biodiversity and aquifer preservation.

Yesterday, CEDC signed several Memoranda of Agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in which CEDC agreed to plant 180,000 trees in a 100 hectare land.

Likewise, Alcordo assured that power rates of CEDC will be more stable next year. He said that because loans with the bank are peso dominated, their power rates are more stable compared to other power projects. —Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/JMO   (FREEMAN NEWS)