Plans for power plant finalized

SUNSTAR BACOLOD

THE investor for a 35-megawatt multi-fueled power plant to be constructed next year in Sagay City presented their final plans Monday to Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr.

David Montaigne, President of Global Green Power Negros Philippines Inc. (GGPNPI), said they are now looking for a 12-hectare property close to the Sagay Economic Zone in Hacienda Ricky, Barangay Paraiso where they will put up the power plant that costs $800 million and will take 24 months to build.

Montaigne also introduced to Marañon their Chinese business partner who will put up the equipment for the power plant.

The company at present is processing their application for Renewable Energy Certificate and other necessary permits with the Department of Energy.

Sagay City Mayor Leo Rafael Cueva said Global Green Power's $800-million 35-megawatt multi-fueled biomass power plant would be a big help to the local economy, especially for the development of the 100-hectare Sagay Economic Zone.

Cueva said this is the development that they have been waiting for and that the additional power supply will hopefully attract more investors to Sagay City.

Based on a study, Negros has 2.2 million tonnes of cane tops; 101,900 tonnes of rice husks; 886,312 tonnes of rice straw; 155,312 tonnes of corn straw; and 23,297 tonnes of corn cob. These are the materials that will be used for the power plant.

Montaigne also guaranteed that although the biomass power to be generated from the plant would be sold by Global Green Power to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), the power will still be supplied to Sagay City.

He explained that the biomass plant will surely mitigate climate change because they will be using agricultural waste that is either burnt in the field, producing carbon dioxide, or left to rot, producing methane.

It will also provide 3,400 jobs, where 14,000 people can work in different shifts.

Montaigne further said that their company's project would increase local income opportunities with an estimated money inflow from the power plant operation pegged at P832.2 million for the first year of operation and P34.7 billion after 25 years.

Global Green Power PLC Corp. is a Philippine-registered company invested in and owned 40 percent by Global Green Power, a UK-based unlisted public limited company.

The company was formed to research, develop, own, acquire and operate renewable energy projects within the Philippines and Asia.

The company is now constructing a 17.5-megawatt biomass plant in Mina, Iloilo; a 17.5-megawatt plant in Nueva Ecija and another 35-megawatt plant in Bukidnon.

Published in the Sun.Star Bacolod newspaper on December 14, 2010.