Capitol to earn more from Kepco's coal ash

CEBU, Philippines - The coal ash generated from the Korean Electric Power Co. (Kepco) in Naga City, Cebu has now become an income generating measure of the Province of Cebu without dumping it at the controversial Balili property.

A memorandum of agreement was signed yesterday between the Province of Cebu and Apo Cement Corporation, also known as Cemex Philippines, who will accept the fly and bed ashes produced by Kepco.

The Cemex will use the ash from the coal-fired power plant as additives to the cement making process.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and Cemex president and chief executive officer Pedro Palomino signed the agreement witnessed by Kepco’s vice president Jong Woo Moon.

The agreement states the Cemex will be willing to accept all the projected output of Kepco estimated to be around 600 metric tons of fly ash and around 300 metric tons of bed ash or even more.

Provincial Legal Officer Marino Martinquilla said that Cemex will pay the amount of P40 per metric ton on top of the $1 dollar per metric ton paid by Kepco as earlier agreed.

Kepco will also shoulder the delivery of ash to Cemex.

Palomino told reporters that what they came together is an example of a win-win solution on the problem of Kepco on where to deliver their by-product, and a good public-private collaboration.

The Cebu Provincial Government owns the exclusive rights to the coal ash that is the by-product of the 200-megawatt coal-fired power plant of Kepco in Tinaan, Naga City.

The landfill in the Capitol’s Balili property was the planned dumpsite for the coal ash but the court issued a temporary environmental protection order (TEPO).

“A clear case of behind every cloud is silver lining, in other words, it was a blessing in disguise, an economic blessing in disguise,” Garcia said.

Had Kepco been allowed to plainly dump its ash at the Balili property, the Province of Cebu is only earning $1 per metric ton.

The Cebu Provincial Government earlier entered into a memorandum of understanding with Kepco for the proper disposal of the coal ash generated in its coal-fired power plant.

Kepco was at risk of shutting down their 200 megawatt coal-fired power plant that provides a great part of Cebu’s power supply due to the lack of a storage facility for their coal ash.

— (FREEMAN)