VILLANUEVA, Misamis Oriental—Mindanao’s first and only coal-fired power plant reported zero emission violation since it started operation in November 2006.

According to STEAG State Power Inc. (SSPI) plant manager Oliver Brock, the company is also making sure the plant does not have to shut down unexpectedly being a baseload plant.

“We strictly follow our schedule for preventive maintenance so we won’t have bigger problems later on,” Brock told reporters who visited the plant inside the Phividec Industrial Estate.

One of the two 105-megawatt coal-fired units of STEAG is set for preventive maintenance check by November this year which will last for a few weeks, Brock said.

To allay fears of coal plants emitting harmful toxic and greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere, STEAG is the only power plant in the country equipped with a real-time continuous emission monitoring system, which is connected to the Environment Management Bureau in Cagayan de Oro City.

The system allows government regulators to monitor 24/7 the plant’s emission levels for sulfur oxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide and other gasses.

“This shows our commitment to deliver power but also to protect our host community and the environment,” communications officer Jermoe Soldevilla said.

SSPI is owned by Germany’s STEAG GmBH which holds a 55-percent stake, Aboitiz Power Corp. with 34 percent and State Investment Trust Inc. with 11 percent.

The coal plant supplies 20.51 percent of Mindanao’s power demand and just came online just in time as the island needed critical energy to feed its economic growth.

The island continues to rely much on renewable hydroelectric power sources, which covers for half of the island’s power needs and geothermal plants, which contributes 11 percent.

SSPI sits on a 55-hectare property in the town of Villanueva, about an hour east of Cagayan de Oro City.

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Mindanao’s only coal-fired power plant reports zero emission violation

VILLANUEVA, Misamis Oriental—Mindanao’s first and only coal-fired power plant reported zero emission violation since it started operation in November 2006.