The risk of worsening of environmental contamination is the main concern of the people of Peravia province. Baní Bishop Victor Masalles, electricity expert Bernardo Castellanos; environmental coordinator for the UASD state university, Luis Carvajal, the president of the Baní municipal Council Leonidas Diaz, and social activist Enrique de Leon participated in a recent panel to discuss the challenges ahead for the government-built coal-fired power plant.
The participants urge the government give priority to the contamination issues. The environmentalists urge the removal of the toxic ashes at presently deposited in an open air storage in Batey San Jose, adjacent to the power plant.
Enrique de Leon campaigns in favor of the conversion of the power plant to natural gas.
Energy expert Bernardo Castellanos said that the contamination issue is the most pressing for the 752 MW power plant. He said this is independent of the government’s decision for the operation of the power plant. The Abinader administration is advocating that a trust manage the power plant instead of a company structure, as is the case of Itabo, another coal-fired power plant with government ownership.
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El Nuevo Diario
14 February 2022