Colombian candidate backs coal-fired power

[Judi Lynn]

Colombian candidate backs coal-fired power
Time: 27 Apr 2010 14:26 GMT

Bogota, 27 April (Argus) — Juan Manuel Santos, the frontrunner in the race to become the next president of Colombia, has said he supports the construction of more coal and gas-fired power plants so that at least 30pc of the country's generation capacity comes from fossil fuels.

Santos said he would build more power generators that use coal and gas in addition to the nine plants granted in 2008 through firm energy auctions if he wins the 30 May presidential poll.

Electricity generated by the new power projects that is not used domestically would be exported. And Santos would promote the construction of international power grids and pipelines to export electricity and gas from Colombia to neighbouring countries.

“We have to continue diversifying energy sources and depend less on electricity generated by hydroelectric plants and more on coal and gas-fired plants, taking advantage that Colombia has coal resources for thousands of years. Water is limited and it is subject to the weather,” Santos said.

He has promised to promote the construction of new renewable energy technologies, without specifying which. And his government would maintain all the benefits granted by President Alvaro Uribe to the energy sector.

More:
http://www.argusmedia.com/pages/NewsBody.aspx?id=705542&menu=yes

[Wilms]

1. Sad. n/t

[protocol rv]

4. Why sad?

Let me see...if they try to build hydropower, then you guys say it's bad because it displaces people. If they try to build nuclear plants, then they're bad because they generate radioactive waste. If they try to use natural gas and coal, then it's sad....so what's your solution for Colombia? I'm really curious if you have the foggiest idea about this topic.

[Bacchus39]

5. and what about if it were oil? do you think that would be sad too?

it looks to me the consternation is due to the country of origin, not the type of energy.

[rabs]

2. Argus (whatever that is) is somewhat behind

Bogota, 27 April (Argus) — Juan Manuel Santos, the frontrunner in the race to become the next president of Colombia, ....

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Because the latest poll has Mockus well ahead of Santos and winning in a runoff. If there is a runoff.

[rabs]

3. Santos neglected to mention that coal means big bucks for Colombia

and a lot of it comes to the United States.

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Coal is an important part of the Colombian economy: in 2009, coal represented about one-quarter of total export earnings, and mining taxes and royalties paid to the Colombian government exceeded $1 billion. During the first nine months of 2009, the United States imported 13.6 MMst of coal from Colombia, about 80 percent of total U.S. coal imports.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/Colombia/Coal.html