Initial DENR study shows coal ash in Naga not toxic

CEBU, Philippines - Samples of coal ash taken by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) from two sites in Naga City, Cebu, have “apparently” been found to be non-hazardous and non-toxic based on studies conducted by the said government agency.

DENR information officer Eddie Llamedo, however, said that as of now, they cannot conclusively issue any statement about the non-toxicity of the coal ash samples taken as they still have to conduct another test within the week.

“We will conduct another sample to make sure the consistency of the result. We will validate first the result,” Llamedo told The FREEMAN.

According to the results of the analysis in the metals laboratory at the DENR head office, from the first sample under 2009-1000, the traces of cadmium was only 0.01 milligram per liter. The traces of lead was only 0.373 milligrams per liter .The traces of mercury was only <0.20 milligram per liter.

While in the second sample under 2009-1001, traces of cadmium was 0.010 milligrams per liter, lead traces was 0.043 while the mercury was only <0.020.

The coal ash came from the two coal fired plants built by the National Power Corp. (Napocor) during the 70s but now managed by the SPC Power Corp.

The alleged presence of hazardous metals of the coal ash in Naga had been used in the current campaign by environmentalists to stop the construction of two modern coal-fired plants using clean coal technology by the KEPCO-SPC Power Corp.

The KSPC is the partnership of the Korean Electric Co. and the SPC Power Corp. now building two 100 megawatt plants in Naga.

The two coal ash samples which were analyzed last August 27 were taken from the Pansoy private lot beside the Naalad River in barangay Naalad and the Abarquez lot beside the Pandan river in barangay Pandan.

The coal ash controversy led to the discovery of alleged irregularities in the purchase of land by the Provincial Government that was later found to have huge portions underwater. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)