Guv hopes German investor would solve power problem

Wednesday, October 19, 2011


NEGROS Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. is looking forward that the power investment planned to be put up by a German firm, which recently visited Bacolod City, would give solution to the power problem of the province.


By year 2013, Marañon said Negros Occidental will have a power shortage of about 200 megawatts, while the whole Visayas grid is seen to have a power shortage of about 2,100 megawatts in the next two years.


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With this, the governor said he welcomes such investment in the province.


A group of Swiss-German investors has expressed interest to invest in Negros Occidental, particularly on renewable energy, and is presently in the city to assess the province’s potential.


The governor hosted a fellowship dinner for the 18-member Thomas Lloyd Investments Group, led by chairman and CEO T.U. Michael Sieg, last Monday night at the Capitol.


A third-time visitor to the province, Sieg thanked the governor and other provincial and local officials for the warm welcome as he expressed optimism that the company could indeed be the province’s partner in renewable energy venture.


The company is reportedly initially targeting investing in the first power plant in San Carlos City in partnership with Bronzeoak Philippines in a project dubbed the San Carlos BioPower, an 18-megawatt biomass plant slated for operation two to three years from now.


Around $40-million investment is needed for the project “that is envisioned to provide employment to residents with multiplier effects in terms of increased economic activities, employment generation and improvement in the provision of basic services.”


Two more areas in Negros Occidental are also being eyed by the Thomas Lloyd Group, Bronzeoak chairman Jose Maria Zabaleta, who invited Sieg and company to the province, told Sun.Star Bacolod.


Maranon said the province has enough of the fuel source eyed by the investor, adding the province is very much prepared for such investment. (Teresa Ellera-Dulla)