This is in line with goals set by the Department of Energy (DOE) in pursuit of its 2005-2014 Philippine Energy Plan, in accordance with Republic Act 9513, the Renewable Energy Act of 2008.
SIGNING – Ormeco and EPI officials formalize a power supply deal, witnessed by (standing, from left) Rep. Reynaldo V. Umali (2nd District, Oriental Mindoro), Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho L. Petilla and Oriental Mindoro Gov. Alfonso V. Umali Jr. (Seated, from left) Ormeco president Audel A. Arago; Ormeco general manager Romeo N. Cuasay; EPI Chief Technical Adviser Dr. Antonie de Wilde; EPI executive vice president Alberto C. Guanzon; and EPI project manager Melburgo S. Chiu.
“Renewable energy remains as our main thrust,” Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla said at the signing of the power supply agreement (PSA) between the Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (Ormeco) and Emerging Power Incorporated (EPI) in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro on February 3. “Our commitment is to make sure that we have sustainable and environment-friendly energy, to make it affordable, to make it rightly-priced.”
The Ormeco-EPI agreement involves the construction of the 40-megawatt Montelago Geothermal Power Plant in Barangays Montelago, Montemayor and Melgar B in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.
Petilla noted that the plant, to be operational in 2016, dovetailed with the goals of the DOE because it could produce 40 megawatts of energy that is safe, clean, simple, reliable and environment-friendly as it is extracted from deep within the earth’s surface.
“People mistook the night-time emission of the geothermal plant in Leyte, my hometown province, as smoke. It is actually steam; it does not cause pollution,” the energy secretary said.
Mindoro is relying on energy from diesel, coal and small hydrothermal power plants that is insufficient to provide for the needs of the entire island. Petilla said that unlike geothermal plants, diesel- and coal-fired plants provided energy that was more expensive and pollutive as well.
“Mindoro is one of the few areas in the Philippines with the resource and potential for geothermal energy,” the energy secretary added. “That’s why the people and officials of Mindoro made the right decision when they agreed to host a geothermal plant. The Montelago project can generate 40 megawatts of energy. Wind and solar plants will find it difficult to match this capacity.”
Petilla lauded Ormeco for signing the PSA with EPI. “There are so many problems in the Philippines regarding electric cooperatives,” the secretary said. “In comparison, Ormeco is well-managed, with solid financials and no problems. So when I arrive here, I am not greeted by problems. I am greeted by signings. These are the events I prefer to attend.”
“Ormeco and Mindoro are definitely in the lead,” Petilla added, addressing his speech to the cooperative’s officials led by Audel Arago and Romeo Cuasay, president and general manager, respectively. “I want Ormeco and Mindoro to be set as examples for the entire nation.”
The $180-million project is being undertaken by EPI and negotiations are ongoing for partial funding from the Netherlands Development Finance Company. It will provide 20 megawatts of power to Ormeco and another 20 megawatts to Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative.
Ormeco distributes power to the entire Oriental Mindoro province, made up of Calapan City and 14 municipalities: Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, Baco, Naujan, Victoria, Socorro, Pola, Pinamalayan, Gloria, Bansud,Bongabong, Roxas, Mansalay, and Bulalacao. source
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