Summary / abstract
This article speaks of the true price countries and their people pay for the continued coal use in power generation.
Coal has been touted as the “cheapest” of fuel options justifying its use in electricity generation and other industries in the Philippines. However, there are hidden costs that make coal consumption costly.
Let’s take the case of coal use for electricity generation. In its 2020 report, Clean Air Asia enumerates the harmful health and environmental impacts from coal-fired power plants. Other costs to society, environment and the economy include lives lost from coal mining disasters, biodiversity loss from deforestation, and soil erosion.
Sources:
Clean Air Asia. 2020. South and Southeast Asian Countries Coal-Fired Power Plant Emission Standards
CNN Philippines. 2015. Article: “IBON: Coal pit accident another point for junking Mining Act”. https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2015/07/19/IBON-Coal-pit-accident-another-argument-for-junking-Mining-Act.html
Philippine Star. 2005. Article: “Tragedy At Dalaguete Coal Mine: Methane blast kills 8 miners”. https://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2005/12/12/311906/tragedy-dalaguete-coal-mine-methane-blast-kills-8-miners
Philippine Star. 2008. Article: “Methane gas caused Argao mine explosion”. https://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2008/03/06/48481/methane-gas-caused-argao-mine-explosion
The Associated Press. 1994. Article: “No More Survivors Expected To Be Found After Mine Disaster”. https://apnews.com/article/bcfc6cdeb26dd611a0a988c3ee292ba7
Resource type: Article
Countries: The Philippines
This article speaks of the true price countries and their people pay for the continued coal use in power generation.