Residents protest Cirebon power project

Thousands of Astana Japura residents in Cirebon regency staged demonstration on Sunday to protest the planned construction of the Cirebon coal-fired power plant in Kanci Kulun, Antara news agency reported.

The residents protested against the 660-MW power plant project because PT Cirebon Electric Power (CEP) who won the tender to build the power plant was considered unfair in handling land clearance for the project.

They also accused the company of not conducting an environmental impact analysis (Amdal) properly.

CEP?s deputy director W. Adjinugroho said that the residents' fear that the power plant would cause acid rain was unfounded.

According to him, the company will apply latest technology to handle smoke that will come from the plant so that pollution could be prevented.

He also ensured that the plant would use high quality coal with low sulfur content that is safe for the environment. ?The gas emission produced by the new coal machine will be below the required standards set by the government,? he said. (*)