Study says no air pollution in Sual

SUAL, Pangasinan – A recent study shows air quality in this coastal town remains at normal level despite the presence of the 1,218 megawatt coal-fired power plant.

The study was conducted by AECOM PHILIPPINES, Incorporated,  an established and reputable  international research and consultancy  firm whose mother unit is listed in the Fortune 500 list.

With a generating capacity of 1,218 megawatts, the Sual Power Station is the largest and most cost-effective coal-fired power plant in the country. It was built in 1996 to ease the country’s energy crisis back then.

It was conducted based on the guidelines set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources which mandated regular environmental monitoring in this first class municipality which hosts the biggest coal-fired power plant in the country.

AECOM Philippines conducted the study in eleven critical receptor sites around the municipality based on Administrative Order No. 2000-81 Air Standards and Guidelines of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and those standards set by the National Pollution Commission pursuant to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

Air samplings were taken pertaining to Total Suspended Particles (TSP), Particulate Matters (PM), Gaseous Pollutants such as Nitrogen Di0xide, Sulfur Dioxide and Coarse Particulate.

These samplings usually are the result of burning fossil fuel like coal, fuel oil, diesel and gasoline, as well as different kinds of dust carried by the wind.

Among the monitoring areas were Sitio Longos in barangay Pangascasan where the coal power plant is located,  Resettlement Area in  Poblacion, Pangascasan Integrated School, Ash Disposal Area of the power plant, Bangayao Point, Cabalitian Pier, Cabalitian Amianan, Masamerey, Baybay Elementary School, Napo-Logolog Elementary School,  and  Baybay Sur.

 “All stations are within the standards set by Department Administrative Order No. 2000-81 or the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, and in terms of Total Suspended Particles concentration, the air quality in the ambient air quality monitoring stations is good based on DAO 2000-81,” the study said.

 Mayor Roberto Arcinue said this development is a welcome news among residents here who are supporting the construction of a second coal-fired power plant that is expected to generate an additional 1,000 megawatts.

Aside from providing hundreds of jobs and millions in extra revenues, a second power plant would ensure stable power supply that is conducive to economic progress and sustainable growth, he added.

“With stable and cheaper electricity we will be able to invite more investors to put up projects and business ventures in Sual and anywhere else in Pangasinan that would mean more jobs and income for our people,” Mayor Arcinue stressed.

He said there should be no problem about pollution as the proponent, Korean Power Electric Company-Philippines, is investing about two billion US dollars and would use the state- of the art technology called the ultra-super critical coal-fired power plant which  at present is considered as a “High Efficiency Low Emission (HELE) Technology” and as a “green technology”.

Its high efficiency can reach of up to 45% which substantially cut its GHG emission by 30% compared to its predecessors or older coal fired power plants having efficiencies as low as 33% only.

Arcinue said this will boost and stabilize the power supply for the Luzon grid to do away with frequent power interruptions.

The construction of the second coal-fired power plant, he added, dovetails with the pronouncement of President Duterte who stressed the need to put up more coal-fired power plants to avert another power crisis owing to ballooning population and influx of investors.

Duterte said he sees nothing wrong with the government’s plan to put up new coal-fired power plants to boost power supply in the country.