Batangas officials debunk claims by NGO on power facility

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BATANGAS officials have refuted claims by a non-government organization about the supposed negative environmental impacts of the Ilijan Natural Gas Plant and its coming expansion, emphasizing the power facility’s long and beneficial presence in the province with no record of environmental violations or harm to the local ecosystem and marine biodiversity in its more than 20 years of operation.

The Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Batangas has passed a unanimous resolution saying the allegations made by the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development opposing LNG projects in the area are baseless, misleading, and do not reflect the true sentiments of its constituents.

The CEED has been actively campaigning against San Miguel Global Power, which took ownership of the Ilijan plant in July 2022 and its expansion of the facility. The expansion is aligned with the country’s overall power needs and supply security goals, and is part of a larger effort to utilize cleaner alternatives to coal as part of a responsible transition to cleaner energy sources.

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The Ilijan plant, built and operated by power firm Kepco for more than 20 years, historically accounts for up to 10 to 15% of Luzon’s power needs.

Local leaders underscored that SMGP’s Ilijan operations have continued to comply with environmental regulations while significantly contributing to the local economy. The resolution highlights the importance of existing and new facilities in driving economic growth in the region.

“Beyond power generation, these facilities – both brownfield and greenfield – have been instrumental in boosting the local economy, creating job opportunities and enhancing the quality of life in Batangas City,” the resolution said.

Local officials criticized CEED for its misleading portrayal of SMGP and the LNG project online and in social media, and unrealistically advocated for an immediate switch to 100% renewable energy without a viable, step-by-step plan.

“This approach fails to consider the potential impacts on employment, businesses, energy security, and the country’s technological and infrastructure readiness,” Armando Lazarte, councilor and chairman of the Batangas City Committee on Environment, Urban Development, Land Use and Zoning, said.

Questions have also been raised about why CEED has been specifically targeting SMC and SMGP and the Ilijan facility while it has been silent on other major LNG projects in the country.

LNG is acknowledged worldwide as a cleaner alternative to coal and is a significant part of any energy transition strategy, not to mention an essential source of power for many developed and developing economies.

Among the countries that are the largest users of LNG in Asia are China, Japan, South Korea, India, and Taiwan; Germany, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland, Belgium and others in Europe, and the United States

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