Greenpeace blocks Pagbilao coal shipments

QUEZON PROVINCE, Philippines - International environmental group, Greenpeace, through their flagship "Rainbow Warrior," blocked coal shipments at the 700 megawatt (MW) Pagbilao coal-fired power plant in Quezon province Friday to protest against coal plants. The Rainbow Warrior anchored alongside the coal ship Medi Firenze unloading a cargo of coal at the Pagbilao plant’s loading pier, and prevented another shipment — from the 223-meter vessel Sam John Spirit standing by to unload. "Being one of the countries most vulnerable to climate impacts, the Philippines should address climate change by immediately stopping the expansion and construction of new coal plants. The Philippines already produces 54% more power than it needs. We should invest in improving the power grid rather than expanding a coal plant that reduces our chances of preventing dangerous climate change," said Beau Baconguis, Campaign Manager of Greenpeace Southeast Asia from onboard the Rainbow Warrior. As stated further by the group, burning coal is the single biggest source of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and a major cause of climate change. Coal emits 29% more carbon per unit of energy than oil and 80% more than gas. The Philippines, an archipelagic country, composed of more than 7,000 small islands has been identified as the nation most affected by climate impacts in 2006 by the NGO GermanWatch. "The Philippines should send a strong message to ASEAN countries to lead the way in phasing out the use of coal. Greenpeace is also calling on developed countries to provide assistance to developing countries like the Philippines in the fight to stop climate change," said Jasper Inventor, Climate and Energy Campaigner of Greenpeace Southeast Asia. The Rainbow Warrior is in the Philippines to spearhead the Greenpeace "Quit Coal Tour" in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. The tour aims to promote solutions to stop climate change - an energy revolution away from the use of climate-damaging coal, and a massive shift to renewable energy. Meanwhile, Japanese joint venture and power producer TeaM Energy Corp. which owns the plant, in a separate statement said that their company strongly complies on all environment rules and regulation required by the law. "TeaM Energy complies with and exceeds all pertinent environment rules and regulations as required by law, including the Philippine Clean Air Act and regulations set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), among others. The group should lobby in Congress if they want to push for their advocacy," spokesman and external affairs head Froilan Gregory H. Romualdez said. In a phone interview, Mr. Romualdez added that they tried to talk to the Greenpeace members and invited them to have a tour in their plant to show that they are complying with all the laws but Greenpeace declined the chance. "We respect the advocacy of Greenpeace and we are open to discussing our environmental performance with them. In like manner, we hope that they will respect private property and the rule of law and not resort to illegal activities that may disrupt plant operations and endanger the access to electricity of millions of Filipinos," said Mr. Romualdez. Mr. Romualdez said that marine police are on standby to avert any disruptions in the plant operations. The Pagbilao plant when combined with the company’s other plant, 1,218 Sual coal fired plant located in Pangasinan, provides 25% of the Luzon power requirement. - BusinessWorld