ZamboSur takes keen interest in hydro energy

In the wake of power shortages and of the rising cost of electricity, the provincial capitol is expressing enthusiasm in finding ways to develop hydro energy in the Zamboanga del Sur.
Governor Antonio H. Cerilles said the province is forming a technical working group and a team of lawyers to study the processes of getting water rights from rivers and other bodies of water that can be harnessed to generate power.

He added that provincial board is poised to map out for a hydro power plant in the province. The governor, though, did not mention the potential locations in which to build mini hydro electric turbines as studies are still being conducted.

Guessworks pointed out that waterpower of the Baca Falls in Lakewood, and the Lakewood water can be harnessed into energy.

It was gathered that hydro power plants could cost more than US$ 3 million per mega watt generating capacity. The figure does not include the cost of creating and maintaining a reservoir and dam.

Diesel or coal power plants, on the other hand, are cheaper to build but rising coal and crude oil prices may pull the price of produced energy up.

In several occasions, the governor has commended Pangasinan 5th District Representative Mark O. Cojuanco for filing House Bill 4631 entitled Bataan Nuclear Power Plant Re-Commissioning Act of 2008.
The Bill sought for the immediate re-commissioning and commercial operation of the Bataan nuclear power plant, and for the appropriation of its operating funds.

It was learned that Bataan nuclear plant, which was a supposed answer of then president Ferdinand E. Marcos to the energy crises in the early 70’s, costs $155-thousand in interest to taxpayers a day without producing a single watt of electricity.

Mr. Marcos regarded nuclear power as the best alternative way to meet the country’s future energy requirements without relying heavily on imported crude oil.

The construction of Bataan Nuclear Power plant began in 1976 and was completed in 1984 at a cost of 2.3 billion dollars. Debt repayment on the plant is said to be the country’s biggest single obligation.

After Marcos was overthrown in early 1986, a team of international inspectors visited the plant and declared it unsafe and inoperable as it was built near major earthquake fault lines and near the Pinatubo volcano.

The former Corazon Aquino administration ended the nuclear plant’s journey when it banned the use of nuclear power and enshrined it into the Constitution. After more than 30 years from construction, members of the Congress are still arguing whether to extend life to the nuclear plant.

It was learned the province of Cebu has backed up the arguments of Cojuanco and has expressed willingness to host a nuclear plant to augment the power requirements of the province. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Cebu has been reported to have passed resolution being agreeable to nuclear energy.

Cerilles also noted the innovation Ilocos Norte has practically applied in the province. The governor noted the wind turbines use by Ilocos Norte to generate power by exploiting the contrasting wind in the coastal areas fronting the China Sea.

With this in mind, Gov. Cerilles reiterated Zamboanga del Sur must be self-sufficient in energy so that we do not always depend on the electricity produced by other provinces. He added we could lure investors and other industries to invest in the province as we can have cheaper electricity. (by Neil Michael Dablo)