He added the firm will give a down payment for the winning contractor before construction starts at the end of the first quarter of 2010.

Conal Holdings is 60% owned by Filipino Conglomerate Alsons Corp and the rest held by the Electricity Generating Public Co. Ltd., Thailand’s largest power producer.

Outside of that corporate structure, Nocos said the company is negotiating to attract investors to the $450 million coal plant project.

Gregorio Gonzales, Conal Holdings power plant manager, earlier identified the prospective investors as Aboitiz Power Corp and Toyota Tsusho. 

Last April, Environment Secretary Joselito Atienza, Jr. issued the company an environmental compliance certificate, giving the green light for Conal Holdings to push through with the project located in a world-class diving spot.

Environmentalist groups such as the World Wide Fund for Nature and Greenpeace and the local Catholic Church and other local organizations are opposing the  project on concerns over human health and pollution. 

Nocos explained that the power plant will make use of the latest in circulating fluidized bed technology. 
 
“This will ensure that the sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxide emissions of the power station will be substantially below the limits prescribed by the Clean Air Act, guaranteeing that the operation of the plant will be clean and safe for the environment,” he said.

Gonzales said they would also set up a carbon sink by planting trees in 7,500 hectares to absorb the carbon dioxide emissions of the power plant.

The carbon sink will cost some $7.5 million, he said.  

Among the trees identified for planting in idle or grassy portions of the town and neighboring areas are mango, rubber, coffee and forest trees. 

Gonzales said that 4,000 farmers could benefit from the forestation project of Conal Holdings.

Sarangani Governor Miguel Dominguez’ family owns Conal Holdings. Conal stands for Conrado Alcantara, the governor’s grandfather. (MindaNews)

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