Philippines’ biofuels project hits environmental obstacles
The construction of a government-backed, privately-led bioethanol project in barangays Bayanga and Mambuaya, the Philippines, could pollute the Cagayan de Oro River, an environmental conservation group has warned.
The Kagayan Watershed Alliance (Kawal) has vowed to oppose the P2.4 billion (38 million Euro's) project that Alsons Consolidated Resources (ACR) had planned to build on a 17-hectare area shared by the two villages.
The city's main river system runs through the two villages. In a statement, Kawal said it would resort to civil disobedience if the project pushes through.
Councilor Ian Acenas, chair of the Sangguniang Panlungsod's environment committee, says ACR has assured the city government that it will use a state-of-the-art water treatment facility to safeguard the environment and protect the communities around the plant.
Kawal says ACR could not possibly control contamination because it will use cassava, which has natural cyanide contents, in its production of bioethanol.
Mario Jose Baile, ACR business development manager, comments that the plant will only process dried cassava and not the fresh ones, as dried cassava chips now do not contain cyanide.
'The first stage of water-treatment will be treating the water effluent to produce methane that can supplement the fuel of the boiler which will help in the reduction of carbon emission,' Baile explains. 'If there is a possibility of disposal, we assure the public that we will follow the highest standards of government regulation to prevent harming the environment.'
The Kagayan Watershed Alliance (Kawal) has vowed to oppose the P2.4 billion (38 million Euro's) project that Alsons Consolidated Resources (ACR) had planned to build on a 17-hectare area shared by the two villages.
The city's main river system runs through the two villages. In a statement, Kawal said it would resort to civil disobedience if the project pushes through.
Councilor Ian Acenas, chair of the Sangguniang Panlungsod's environment committee, says ACR has assured the city government that it will use a state-of-the-art water treatment facility to safeguard the environment and protect the communities around the plant.
Kawal says ACR could not possibly control contamination because it will use cassava, which has natural cyanide contents, in its production of bioethanol.
Mario Jose Baile, ACR business development manager, comments that the plant will only process dried cassava and not the fresh ones, as dried cassava chips now do not contain cyanide.
'The first stage of water-treatment will be treating the water effluent to produce methane that can supplement the fuel of the boiler which will help in the reduction of carbon emission,' Baile explains. 'If there is a possibility of disposal, we assure the public that we will follow the highest standards of government regulation to prevent harming the environment.'
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