Greenpeace's direct action at the Cilacap coal plant(1) coincides with the launch of the
Indonesian version of the 'True Cost of Coal'(2). This landmark report details the
external costs to local communities and the global climate of
continued dependence on the dirtiest and most polluting of fuels.
These "external costs" include respiratory diseases, mining
accidents, acid rain, smog pollution, reduced agricultural yields
and climate change.
"We have seen at Cilacap the direct impact of coal on human
health in the form of increased respiratory diseases, loss of
livelihood due to local pollution impacts on agriculture and
fisheries, and social impacts, such as community displacement and
loss of cultural heritage," said Arif Fiyanto, Climate and Energy
campaigner of Greenpeace Southeast Asia.
"Indonesia may have the region's most abundant coal resources
but it also has huge untapped reserves of geo-thermal, wind and
solar energy,(3) a much
better fit for the needs of an archipelago than centralised fossil
fuel generation. However, the development of the country's
renewable energy potential has been stymied by the coal industry
that rules our energy ministry," Fiyanto added.
The Cilacap coal plant, operated by private Indonesian energy
utility company PT Segara Sumber Prima, is due to double in
generating capacity from 600 to 1200 MW, as part of a misguided
national energy plan to add an extra 10,000 MW of coal generated
electricity to meet Indonesia's future energy demand.
An Anti-Coal Coalition consisting of various groups including
KAM Cilacap, JATAM, Walhi, Sekolah Demokrasi Ekonomi and Greenpeace
have launched a campaign against building new, and expanding
existing, coal power plants in Indonesia.
Greenpeace is an independent, global campaigning organisation
that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and
conserve the environment, and to promote peace.
Other contacts: Arif Fiyanto, Climate and Energy campaigner, Greenpeace Southeast Asia (in Cilacap):
tel: +62 81311004640
Nabiha Shahab, Media campaigner, Greenpeace Southeast Asia (In Cilacap):
tel: +62 81314213432
Martin Baker, Communications Manager (Asia), Greenpeace International (in Jakarta):
tel: +62 81315829513For photo and video please contact Findi Kenandarti +62 8161681840
Notes: (1) The Cilacap coal plant, operated by Indonesian energy utility PT Segara Sumber Prima, is due to double in generating capacity from 600 to 1200 MW, as part of the misguided plan to add an extra 10,000 MW of coal generated electricity to meet Indonesia's future energy demand. The existing plant has already taken a toll on the health and livelihoods of local communities, with around 90% suffering respiratory problems and local fishermen reporting reduced catches. Medical practitioners working with Greenpeace and a coalition of JATAM (anti-coal ngo), Walhi, and local community groups, conducted free health checks for communities living adjacent to the Cilacap coal plant on 11 February 2009.
(2) 'True Cost of Coal' report: to approximate a true cost for coal, in 2007 Greenpeace and the independent Dutch research institute CE Delft conservatively evaluated the external costs of the human health impacts due to air pollution from coal, damages attributable to climate change and fatalities due to major accidents resulting from mining operations. These costs were separately compiled and then combined to arrive at a figure, which estimates a lower limit for the costs that coal exacted on humans and the environment in 2007.
The analysis reveals that:
- - The approximate annual damage burden of coal combustion in power plants, from the factors examined, is roughly €355.75 billion.
- - The approximate global damage burden related to accidents in the coal power chain, from the factors examined, is €161.28 million.
- - The approximate annual damage costs of mining, from the factors examined, is €674cmillion.
(3)
Energy Revolution - A Sustainable Indonesia Energy Outlook