Rep. Juliette Uy of the National Unity Party (NUP) is backing the construction of a P30 billion environment-friendly power plant in Misamis Oriental as part of the government’s sustained efforts to solve Mindanao’s power woes and guarantee energy stability in the island.
Uy, who represents Misamis Oriental’s 2nd district, said the proposed 405-megawatt power plant of the FDC Misamis Power Corporation will likewise spur the province’s economic growth and provide thousands of jobs for its residents.
"In keeping with the need for continued development and strict environmental protection standards, we are informed that the power plant to be put up by FDC Misamis will use circulating fluidized bed boiler technology, the latest in clean coal technology," Uy said.
The FDC Misamis power plant project is a major investment project endorsed by both the local and national governments since it will help address the shortfall of power in Mindanao and meet the increasing demand for energy in the island, Uy said.
Mindanao depends largely on cheap hydropower for its electricity needs. But changing climate patterns have made hydroelectric power highly unreliable, with the power supply shortage in the island reaching over 100 MW last year.
The National Power Corp. has also warned that the decreasing water level in Lake Lanao could further worsen the power woes in Mindanao. The lake powers the Agus power plants, which could be shut down if Lake Lanao reaches its critical water level.
"This energy project will help diversify the energy mix in Mindanao and hopefully ensure the supply of reliable and cheap electricity for Misamis Oriental and the rest of the region," Uy noted.
Uy, a member of the House Committee on Energy, said the clean coal technology to be used in operating the FDC Misamis Plant convinced her and local officials to endorse the project to be constructed in an 84.4 hectare area within the Phividec Industrial Estate in the barangays of Balacanas, Tambobong and San Martin of Villanueva, Misamis Oriental.
"More investments and business development for the province will flow once the power plant commences construction and more so when it goes online," Uy said.
According to FDC Misamis, the use of the Circulating Fluidized Bed System (CBD removes more than 95 percent of sulphur emissions and creates negligible nitrogen oxide levels while generating useful by-products such as calcium sulphate that is useful for cement production.