The Iloilo Coal Plant

February 08, 2008

Manila, PHILIPPINES — Greenpeace today slammed the proposed 165 Megawatt coal-fired power plant in Iloilo while criticizing the Philippine government's two-faced energy policy that purports to address climate change, even as it continues to invest in coal, which is now recognized by international climate experts as a major contributor to destructive global warming.

In a joint press conference with Responsible Ilonggos for Sustainable Energy (RISE) in Iloilo City, the environment group announced that it was joining the local communities struggle to stop the construction of the coal-fired plant in Iloilo City.

"The Iloilo coal plant should not be built. We challenge President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to be true to her word and 'assume the mantle of leadership and work to address the challenge of climate change.'" said Greenpeace Southeast Asia Climate and Energy Campaigner Jasper Inventor. "You can't talk sustainable energy solutions while peddling coal on the side--it's complete hypocrisy." he added.

Coal is the dirtiest, most carbon intensive of all fossil fuels. Emitting 29 percent more carbon per unit of energy than oil and 80 percent more than gas, it is one of the leading contributors to climate change. Burning coal also releases massive amounts of substances such as mercury and arsenic that are toxic to human health and create acutely detrimental effects on developing economies and hosting communities.

However, the government currently has at least eight coal-fired plants lined up for construction or expansion in the country: 165 MW in Iloilo City, Iloilo, 300 MW expansion in Pagbilao, Quezon Province, 200 MW each in Naga and Toledo Cities in Cebu, 300 MW expansion in Masinloc, Zambales, 100 MW in Concepcion, Iloilo, 300 MW in Olongapo, Zambales, and 150 MW in Sultan Kudarat. "

Coal-fired power plants already account for 36% of the country's total CO2 emissions, it is time that the RP government gets serious about exploiting the renewable energy sources that are abundant in our country. Sun, wind and geothermal energy tapping technologies are ready to deliver, what is needed is political will to deploy them." Inventor said.