Climate advocates and affected communities in the Philippines are celebrating a major win in their battle against climate change after a proposed 600-megawatt liquefied natural gas (LNG) power plant project in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte, was scrapped. The project, which was met with opposition from various groups, including the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), will no longer proceed due to the company’s decision to withdraw it from the Department of Energy’s list of Mindanao Indicative Power Projects. The Environmental Management Bureau in Northern Mindanao (EMB-10) confirmed that the company, GNPower Ltd. Co., had informed them of their decision to abandon the project, citing the opposition and concerns raised by the community. The PMCJ and other groups had raised concerns about the project’s potential impact on the environment, health, and livelihood of the people in the area, particularly the existing coal-fired power plant’s effects on fishing and pollution. The victory is seen as a significant step towards promoting renewable energy and reducing dependence on fossil fuels in the region, which has abundant renewable energy potential. The groups are pushing for 100% renewable energy by 2030 and are calling on the government to ensure a transition away from dirty and costly fossil fuel-based energy sources.
