The Philippine National Oil Co.-Energy Development Corp. yesterday assured that it is taking measures to mitigate the environmental impact of its entry into the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park buffer zone in order to fulfill its commitment to provide cheap and renewable geothermal energy to Negros Occidental, and avert a power shortage by 2010.

PNOC-EDC, in its press statement, also assured that it will only enter 29 hectares of the 169-hectare buffer zone.

PNOC-EDC reaffirms its commitment to provide power to Negros Occidental through its Northern Negros Geothermal Power Plant in Barangay Mailum, Bago City , which can produce about 30-MW starting April 2010 and 40-MW from January 2011 onwards, NNGPP resident manager Gino dela Cruz said in the statement.

The commitment of NNGPP to provide geothermal power to Negros Occidental still stands even if PNOC-EDC is already a private firm after First Gen succeeded in acquiring 60 percent of the company's controlling stake, dela Cruz said.

Being a fully-privatized company would only enable PNOC EDC to become more globally competitive and responsive to the needs of the areas where it operates, he said.

He also said that much as they have tried to get power outside the Mt. Kanlaon buffer zone that was allocated for geothermal energy per R.A.9154, they are now left with no other choice but to utilize this allocated area if they are to live up to their commitment to provide clean power to Negros Occidental.

He said there is a technical situation in the geothermal reservoir that prevents PNOPC-EDC from fully utilizing the maximum capacity of the area outside the buffer zone.

The sustainable power outside the buffer zone is only 20 MW and we know that this is not enough if PNOC-EDC is to deliver the request of Negrenses for it to augment Central Negros Electric Cooperative's power supply and maintain Negros Occidental's status of being a green province, he also said.

“We have to act now if we want to avert the projected power crisis in Negros Occidental by 2010,” he said.

PNOC-EDC has prepared the requirements for use of the geothermal buffer zone provided by R.A. 9154, he said.

The company commissioned third party consultants to study the biodiversity of the 169-hectare buffer zone from May to Sept 2007 to reduce the area to be used for geothermal energy, the PNOC-EDC statement said.

The group was able to find a route that will reduce the area to be used to 29 hectares when the company goes in to operate in the buffer zone, the statement added.

PNOC-EDC said the following are the environmental measures that have been approved to protect the buffer zone:

• PNO-EDC has invented a new emission diffuser worth P1.5 million to trap geothermal sprays so prevent harm to the forest cover;

• All wastes will be brought out of the buffer zone and managed outside;

• Replacement reforestation at a ratio of 1:10 or a total of 125 hectares will be implemented. PNOC has already planted 332 hectares of plantations in NNGP since the start of its operation. It has also established 40 hectares in 2007 at Minoyan , Murcia and targets another 85 hectares for 2008 in the same town;

• Full injection of liquid wastes outside the buffer zone; and

• Biodiversity maintenance.

In all its operations, PNOC-EDC has always upheld its commitment to preserve the environment not only because it is part of its responsibility but because it needs a healthy watershed to maintain a geothermal reservoir, the statement said.

At present, geothermal energy is the only viable source of clean and green energy in Negros Occidental, PNOC-EDC said.

The gestation period needed to put up a hydroelectric, solar or biofuels plant cannot address Negros Occidental's projected power shortage in 2010, it said.

The cost of solar is still prohibitive based on the 1-MW facility in Sepalco in Cagayan de Oro, with an capacity cost of P14/kwh, and there is no large-scale source for the power needs of the province, it also said.

“I understand that there will be further discussions between our Senior Vice President, Agnes de Jesus, and the Church on these matters,” dela Cruz said. He added that he hopes that their meeting will clear things up and work for the best of Negros Occidental.*CPG

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