By Dave Albarado
Tagbilaran City – Power sector stakeholders and the provincial government rejected on Tuesday plans to build a coal power plant in Bohol.
Gov Edgar Chatto presided the meeting of the Bohol Energy Development Advisory Group (Bedag) where all the members approved a resolution adopting a policy statement opposing the use of coal as the fuel for a future inland power plant.
The new policy direction ensures any inland power plant that will be constructed in the future will not use coal.
With the policy, the three distribution utilities under the umbrella of One Bohol Power (1BP) will have a framework to use in remove pro-coal proposals in the terms of reference which will be used in selecting the power supplier.
Bedag maintained the requirements in the choice for a land-based power plant will revolve on reliability, cost, and environmental protection.
Tuesday’s meeting included members of the provincial board.