PB wants operational info from Kepco-SPC

CEBU, Philippines - After Naga City lifted the Cease and Desist Order against the Korean Electric Power Corporation-Salcon Power Corporation, the committee on environmental conservation and natural resources of the Cebu Provincial Board sent a letter to the company, asking for a detailed rationalization of the operation of the coal-fired power plant.

Provincial Board member Thadeo Ouano, chairman of the said committee, sent a letter last Monday to Bong Joo Choi, president of Kepco-SPC, to be provided information on certain aspects of the coal-fired power plant.

Ouano stated that in line with the newly approved Cebu Environmental Code, the provincial government plays a big role in providing Cebuanos with a healthy and balanced ecology.

“The recurring incidence of coal ash/dust pollution from the operations of the Kepco-SPC facility is alarming, and given the responsibility of the provincial government, as enunciated in CEC, we are particularly interested on determining vital information from the plant,” he said.

Ouano stated that they would like to know the existing environmental legislations and regulations being enforced by the both local and national government and how Kepco-SPC complies with these regulations and taken into action environmental management measures.

The letter also requested for information on penalties imposed for violations and compensation for environmental as well as community and household damages.

Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong imposed the CDO on Kepco-SPC’s loading and unloading of coal for their power plant after residents living near the area complained that black dust reached their houses.

Two days after, Chiong lifted the CDO after the company submitted the immediate and long-term action plan for their operations which Chiong requested as a prerequisite for lifting the order.

Kepco-SPC apologized for the incident explaining that one of their two 100-megawatt power plants is under maintenance and raw coal supposedly for the operation of the plant has been piled up and was blown away by strong winds.

However, the company said that they have immediately stopped the unloading of coal and have decreased its stockpile height. They have also sprayed water to assure that the dust will not be blown away to the nearby houses anymore.

Chiong said in an interview yesterday that a team from the city’s environmental committee will visit the plant this week to see if all the immediate solutions promised by the plant are in place.

Chiong said that although Kepco-SPC did not assure 100 percent that the incident will never happen again, he is confident that the plant will do all possible measures on their part to protecting their operations, the community and the environment.

Further, PB Ouano’s letter stated that they would also want to be provided information on the level and extent of information sharing between the company and the public with regards to the latter’s participation in monitoring and decision.

Ouano said that the information to be provided by Kepco-SPC would greatly help in the crafting of the implementing rules and regulations of the CEC.  —  (FREEMAN)