CHAPTER I

For the past few years, Philippines, especially in Mindanao experienced power shortage. This was most evident in the summer of 2010 when 12-hour brown-outs hit Mindanao. South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SOCOTECO II) is the electric services distributor in the province of South Cotabato, and the municipalities of Gensan, Sarangani, Polomolok, Tupi, all in the province of Cotabato. SOCOTECO II is an electric cooperative authorized to distribute electricity to its Franchise Area. It sources one hundred percent (100%) of its electricity requirements for distribution to its end customers from the National Power Corporation (NPC) pursuant to a Contract for the Supply of Electric Energy (CSEE) which took effect on 26 May 2000. The CSEE has a contract term of ten (10) years and expired on 25 May 2010. The expiration of SOCOTECO IIs agreement with NPC for the supply of energy and the projected increase in the energy requirements of SOCOTECO IIs customers will result in a shortage of the energy available to SOCOTECO II and its customers. At present, there is a region-wide power supply deficiency problem in Mindanao. A wide area in Mindanao has already experienced frequent brownouts and power interruptions due to the scarcity of power supply and generation in the region. The current power crisis underscores the need for SOCOTECO II to enter into a bilateral agreement with generation companies for the supply of electricity to its customers. SARANGANI ENERGY POWER PLANT The Conal Holdings Corporation and Alcantara Group headed by Tomas I. Alcantara would like to ease the power deficiency situation in Mindanao in order to accelerate the regions economic advancement. Without enough power, companies cannot operate their businesses fully and continuously. There will be less jobs and income available for the people in the region. The coal-fired 200-MW power plant in Maasim, Sarangani will provide enough energy to cover Sarangani Province, General Santos, South Cotabato and most of Southwest Mindanao.

How Do Coal Power Plants Produce Electricity? The conversion from coal to electricity takes place in three stages. Stage 1 The first conversion of energy takes place in the boiler. Coal is burnt in the boiler furnace to produce heat. Carbon in the coal and Oxygen in the air combine to produce Carbon Dioxide and heat. Stage 2 The second stage is the thermodynamic process.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

The heat from combustion of the coal boils water in the boiler to produce steam. In modern power plant, boilers produce steam at a high pressure and temperature. The steam is then piped to a turbine. The high pressure steam impinges and expands across a number of sets of blades in the turbine. The impulse and the thrust created rotate the turbine. The steam is then condensed and pumped back into the boiler to repeat the cycle. Stage 3 In the third stage, rotation of the turbine rotates the generator rotor to produce electricity based of Faradays Principle of electromagnetic induction.

CHAPTER II
The Pros

Why Is Sarangani Energy Power Plant Using Coal To Produce Electricity? Coal is the safest, most reliable, and most affordable energy source for Mindanao. In the past, hydroelectric power was more than adequate to cover the energy demands of the people of the region. However, that was a different time with different demands. There were no 24-hour call centres and very few 24-hour establishments; there were fewer people and fewer homes, offices, schools, malls and factories requiring electricity. Currently, hydroelectric power is just not reliable as it was once, as what happened in the summer of 2010 when Mindanao experienced the 12-hour brownouts. If the power generated by hydroelectric plants hardly meets present demand, how else can it address Mindanaos future demand? Other renewable sources such as wind, biomass and solar energy are still very expensive to harness today. Use of these sources is very limited because it will mean considerably higher power rates for consumers. In the future, when renewable energy sources become more economically viable, the Alcantara Group will consider using these sources. Natural gas and geothermal sources are scarce in Mindanao. Nuclear power is not only controversial, but it will take a long time and is also very expensive to develop. This leaves them with coal and oil as the only possible alternatives. Oil however is four times more expensive than coal. Wont Using Coal Harm The Environment? Modern coal-fired power generation technology is environment friendly, and the group have made conscious decisions to ensure that the power plant will not pollute the air, earth and water around the area. The power plant will be using Kalimantan coal as the primary source. This type has less sulphur content than other types of coal, resulting in lower emission levels of sulphur oxide and carbon monoxide from the plant. Ash will be segregated, collected and treated according to RA 9003 or the Solid Waste Management Act of the Philippines. The Cons To dig up coal, we have to create mines which can be dangerous and not very nice to look at.

Transporting coal by lorry and train from the mine to the power station causes pollution. Burning coal produces polluting gases like sulphur dioxide which make acid rain. Of all energy sources, burning coal releases the most greenhouse gases which may add to global warming. Coal is a non-renewable source and will run out in about 100 years. Coal miners can be affected by black lung disease or pneumoconiosis and also emphysema if they breathe in too much of the coal dust. Although Philippines have a lot of indigenous and clean energy resources, the country is still reliant on high CO2-emitting coal-fuelled power plants as a source of electricity; simply because electricity generated from these plants is still cheaper compared to some of the indigenously fuelled power plants in the country. The price of indigenous energy sources in the Philippines is high due to either or all of the following reasons; - Indigenous energy sources in the Philippines, like geothermal and natural gas, are heavily taxed by the Government; - The prices of some indigenous energy sources are indexed to imported fuels. The cost of the geothermal steam of Tiwi and Makban, for example is indexed to imported coal, therefore, the electricity generated by these geothermal plants and coal plants do not have much difference; - Some Hydroelectric Independent Power Producers like Casecnan Hydro Electric Power Plant sell there electricity at incredibly high price due to the Plants expensive construction cost. Coal that is used for the coal-fired power plants in the Philippines is either imported or sourced locally (in Semirara).

CHAPTER III
We all experienced the power shortage a few years ago, and it almost made everyone wild! Sometimes, you are seriously doing your homework, and when you are about to finish, the lights went out. You may have also experienced the anger when your download is just about to stop and then, the electricity went out without prior notice.

These were some occurrences that happened during the rotating brownouts in Mindanao. Due to acceleration of the regions economic advancement, the power supply has never been enough for the use of the commercial establishments, houses and etc. Hence, the only way that the people thought of is the creation of another source of energy, and that is the project now of the Conal Holdings Corporation and Alcantara Group. Based on the information gathered, the Sarangani Energy Power Plant will produce 200MW of power and will be supplying the 70% of electricity in certain areas in Mindanao. Now, whats our stand in this? We go against it. There are many positive things presented, such as coal being the safest, most reliable, and most affordable energy source for Mindanao, the power plant will be using Kalimantan coal as the primary source, and many more. Even they said that coal is the only thing that we can use, for its cheap and abundant, it has been blamed as a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. with this, we cannot guarantee the safety of the workers inside, the residents living nearby the area and also, the people around Sarangani who will be experiencing the pollution caused by the plant. Furthermore, as what they said, the plant will be using Kalimantan coal, which is imported from Indonesia. It means, if the plant will operate, 200,000 tons of coal will be delivered each year. Not only will the Filipinos be affected, but the Indonesians as well. Kalimantan is a place in Indonesia which holds 70% of the countrys coal production; however, as the coal mining industry progresses, the environmental problems go with it. Coal mining in Kalimantan is a dirty business for locals, contaminating water, permeating the air and coating houses with coal-dust, and creating health problems. Coal mining can cause floods, and many depleted mining areas are left without rehabilitation. Moreover, coal transportation vehicles contribute to road accidents and road damage. These heavy vehicles are also a nuisance to the communities living along the roads because of the dust and noise they create. In conclusion, the coal-fired power plant that will be operating in Maasim, Sarangani does not just bring benefits to the customers, rather, pollution and health hazards to the residents in Philippines and Indonesia.

As a suggestion, from the point of view of the students, if we look on our problem in the energy crisis, we should ask ourselves first if we knew what was really going on, why did our power supplier had experienced power shortage? Is it really our fault or theirs? And if the only solution to the energy crisis is a power plant, we would like to recommend having other kinds of plant which doesnt create pollutants and doesnt harm the environment and people. They said that we cannot have a solar, wind, or other kinds of power plant for now because it costs so much. But, there are advantages also if we will use these plants, like the solar power plant. The plant itself costs so much, but the operation does not, for the energy coming from the sun is free and it will always be. Another suggestion is to support the studies of scientists. In our generation, there are many scientists too, the veterans and the young ones. They have studied environmental problems and solutions for it but the government doesnt support them, thats why they have stopped pushing through their advocacies. There are many things that can be done. Many things that can benefit the people from both countries. This is not to say that coal-fired power plants do no harm to the environment. Every human and natural activity that produces energy also produces pollutants, we all should agree. It is how we measure, how we mitigate and how we prevent environmental destruction that are paramount. Otherwise, this world will come into a standstill.

A POSITION PAPER:

COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT: WHATS OUR SAY?

Submitted by: Ellyne Cauyao Sergia Virginia Gepitulan Jewelle Mae Solijon IV-Diamond

Submitted to: Ariel C. Lalisan Physics Teacher

January 9, 2012