Firm won’t benefit from Aquino’s emergency powers

This refers to the news articles “Crisis powers favor big, dirty power plants” (Front Page, 12/12/14) and “Emergency powers trump environment laws–solon” (News, 12/15/14).

The Dec. 12 article stated that “[o]wners of coal- or biomass-fired power plants are expected to benefit from President Aquino’s special powers allowing him to bypass rigid regulations meant to protect the environment, a party-list lawmaker said…. Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares identified the plants and their owners as follows: 600-megawatt (MW) coal-fired plant in Subic Freeport, Zambales province, owned by the consortium of Aboitiz Power Corp., Manila Electric Co. and Taiwan Cogen Corp.”

The article added: “Kabataan Rep. Terry Ridon said the joint resolution would offer the mothballed coal plant Mount Redondo in Subic a golden opportunity to operate without the need for compliance with environmental laws.”

We wish to stress that Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc. (RP Energy) had adhered to all pertinent laws and regulations, including environmental laws in applying for and in the issuance of all its permits, among them, an Environmental Compliance Certificate or ECC issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, before several congressional party-list groups filed the case that has effectively delayed the power generation facility for almost three years.

Like most power plants being built in the country, the 600-megawatt RP Energy facility will use state-of-the-art circulating-fluidized-bed boilers, a form of clean coal technology already used globally.

Furthermore, the House of Representatives version of the joint resolution granting President Aquino emergency powers will not benefit RP Energy. The resolution does not cover RP Energy since the power generation facility will not be online in time for the summer of 2015, or during the expected power supply shortage. While the original target date for commercial operations of the power plant was 2015, the facility will only be completed three years after a Supreme Court resolution shall have been finally handed down. Construction of a coal-fired power plant takes anywhere from 36-42 months.

This was emphasized in the Dec. 15, 2014, news article where it was reported that “(Rep. Reynaldo) Umali denied Bayan Muna’s claim that the emergency powers to be given to President Aquino for five months in 2015 would be used for coal-fired plants that would go on stream only after next year’s power crisis.”

We would like to assure the public and the private sector that we are one with the nation in addressing the power supply situation in the country as it affects each and every citizen, especially now when the country is experiencing economic progress.

We hope this clarifies the matter.

—ANGELITO U. LANTIN,

president, Redondo

Peninsula Energy Inc.,

Rockwell Business Center,

Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City