For p150 fee: Another firm willing to accept Kepco ash

CEBU, Philippines -  As two cement firms cannot still accommodate the fly ash of Kepco SPC, another company is willing to provide a dumping site for the coal plant for P150 fee per ton.

In a closed-door meeting yesterday at the Capitol, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia requested FDRCON to help support KEPCO by lowering the fee.

“Kung wa sila (KEPCO) diri, nagsige na ta og brownout ron. The provincial government of Cebu has been really earnestly supporting KEPCO even before they actually constructed the plant because we need this power,” Garcia said.

Garcia also worries that power rate may also increase if KEPCO pays according to FDRCON’s demand.

Good thing, Garcia said, FDRCON agreed to lower the rate.

The provincial government, FDRCON and KEPCO will sign a tripartite agreement next week.

Provincial legal officer Marino Martinquilla said FDRCON’s dumping site is needed as soon as possible because KEPCO’s fly ash dumpsite in Naga City is almost filled up.

A case before the court is still pending on the Balili property in Tinaan, Naga City where the government plans to dump the fly ash.

The court, Martinquilla said, has also allowed FRDCON to accept the ash.

Unlike Geo-Transport and Construction Inc. and the Mabuhay Filcement Inc., the two firms which wanted to buy the ash, FDRCON will not recycle the ash.

“It will just accept the coals,” Garcia said.

FDRCON is also preparing for the installment the high-density polyethylene (HDPE) liner at the dumping area, which will also be situated in Naga City.

Geo-Transport and Mabuhay, on the other hand, can still not accept the ash for the meantime. — (FREEMAN)