Power firm vows to expand programs for environment

CEBU, Philippines —  Amid criticisms against coal plants, executives from the Global Business Power (GBP) Corporation in Cebu vowed to continue in expanding their environmental initiatives and programs.

In fact, the leading power generation firm, which presently uses coal and diesel, eyes to start using renewable energy source.

Leah Diaz, first vice president for GBP-Cebu, said the corporation plans to allot 30 percent of its energy source in using renewables, most probably solar or biomass, or other components.

"Part of our (GBP executives) commitment is to care for the environment and even go beyond (of what is required). It's not only about compliance. It is our responsibility to protect the environment," she told reports during the media field exposure and benchmarking visit at GBP in Toledo City last Friday.

"We plan to embark on the renewables... We want to diversify our energy sources... and not only focus in coal," she added.

Maybe in the next five years, Diaz projected that the firm is already adopting a mixed or diversified energy source - using both renewable and non-renewable - to generate electricity.

Diaz said the executives are still working on the planning phase.

Feasibility study and cost evaluation for the proposal are now ongoing, she added.

One of the project sites is initially eyed in Negros Oriental.

Diaz, however, pointed out that the proposed renewable energy sources will only help or augment the existing ones.

The Cebu site alone, through the Cebu Energy Development Corporation (CEDC) and the Toledo Power Company (TPC) – both operating in Toledo City, shares the 428-megawatt capacity from its different subsidiaries across the Visayas.

Diaz said operations will still mainly depend on base load plants like coal, since renewable energy sources are unstable.

Like solar plant, the facility will not be running if there is an absence of the sun or if it is blocked by the clouds, she further explained.

That is why the company is also planning to purchase and install battery storage so that enough energy could also be used during nighttime, Diaz said.

She added the company may also put up more base load plants depending on market demand and availability of transmission lines.

But GBP is not only into generating electricity at the expense of the environment.

It has also taken several eco-friendly initiatives and programs such as its air, water and waste management activities.

Daizy Alcoba, environmental officer of GBP-Cebu, said the company has adopted air pollution prevention through the installation of electrostatic precipitation that can capture 99.9 percent of solid particles.

She said the company also conducts regular environmental monitoring and test of air.

Alcoba said the company has implemented coal ash management that intends to minimize emission of particulate matter by installing dust control system within strategic areas.

The firm also conducts energy and carbon management, and Greenhouse Gas reduction program while some are on social development projects, she added.

Last June 27, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 awarded the corporation during its annual recognition dubbed 4th Gawad Tugas under two categories: National Greening Program and Adopt a River Program.

On the company's green initiatives, Alcoba said their employees were able to plant over 327,000 trees, whose growth is regularly monitored.

One of its major undertakings was the Malubog Watershed conservation project that covers 100 hectares and has 79,000 existing trees. —GAN (FREEMAN)