CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – A coalition of environmental and community groups is pushing back against an energy firm’s plan to operate a 600-megawatt liquefied natural gas-fired power plant in Barangay Tacub, Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte, citing threats to public health and the environment.
The Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), the Tacub Homeless Initiatives in Keeping its Rights (THINK), and other civil society organizations delivered a petition to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Cagayan de Oro on Friday, February 21, calling on regulators to reject the project in favor of cleaner energy alternatives.
“As the climate crisis worsens, we should take care of what’s left of our planet,” said PMCJ Mindanao coordinator Rara Ada, urging the government to reconsider its energy strategy.
The project, the GNPower Kauswagan LNG Combined Cycle Power Plant, is being pushed by GNPower Limited Company and is among the Department of Energy’s (DOE) indicative power projects in Mindanao as of December 2024. It is scheduled to begin commercial operations by December 2029.
The proposal has already cleared a key hurdle. A 2021 report from the Manila Standard showed that the DOE had approved its grid impact study, an evaluation determining whether the existing power grid can accommodate the new facility.
Likely impacts
LNG is a natural gas that has been liquefied through a cooling process, which a power plant can use as fuel to generate electricity.
The Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED) published a report in December 2023 outlining the likely impact of every phase of an LNG project on marine and coastal ecology, water quality, and communities.
The report said the construction of offshore LNG infrastructure could result in the loss of marine habitats and coral cover, increase turbidity due to sedimentation, and lead to potential oil and grease contamination.
As a result, nearby residents may be hindered from accessing wildlife and fishing grounds.
The CEED report also warned that operational LNG facilities could create ignitable gas clouds in the event of a rapid LNG spill, with a probable risk of accidents.
One of its recommendations was the need to outline ecologically valuable areas that should be declared as “no-go” zones for LNG terminals, pointing out that “not all critical marine habitats or biodiversity hotspots are declared as protected seascapes under the ENIPAS (Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System).”
Because of this, these areas are at risk from the development of harmful industries.
Another power plant
THINK president Rosalinda Gentiles Calaca said building an LNG power plant in addition to the existing coal-fired plant in the area poses serious concerns for nearby communities.
“An additional fossil gas plant should not be allowed,” she added.
Calaca was referring to the 4×138-megawatt coal-fired plant located in barangays Libertad and Tacub in Kauswagan town, which was developed by the same energy company.
The construction of the coal-fired plant’s port, PMCJ said, has affected a fish sanctuary, dealing a major blow to fisherfolk’s livelihoods.
“The fish sanctuary there was out and erased. It caused the reduction of more than 60% of our fish catch, which dislocated our means of living,” said Alejandro Candilado, a member of the Libertad Fishermen Association.
Residents and environmental advocates have also raised concerns over the project’s possible impact on a nearby reserve, which is home to diverse species and plays a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance.
Rappler emailed GNPower on Sunday, February 23 for comment. A follow-up email was sent on Tuesday, February 25, but the company has yet to respond as of this posting.
PMCJ said it has yet to receive a response from the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau.
For now, the decision rests with regulators, but the opposition is mounting, with critics arguing that the plant represents a step backward at a time when the country should be shifting toward sustainable energy. – Rappler.com