Texas-based Quantum Int'l to put up power plant in Surigao

By Neil Jerome C. Morales (The Philippine Star) Updated March 16, 2012 12:00 AM


MANILA, Philippines - Texas-based Quantum International Group Inc. and the city of Surigao have signed a deal allowing the foreign firm to put up a power plant in the area.


In a statement, the parties said they agreed on the development of several energy projects in Surigao in the next five to seven years.


“These projects include a regional plasma gasification plant that will serve not only Surigao, but other Mindanao municipalities as well,” Quantum International said.


The facility will treat municipal and industrial solid waste to produce electricity.


Also under the agreement was at least one mode biofuel project that will make use of agricultural waste. Quantum International can also use its advanced building system for the construction of various commercial real estate projects in Surigao.


“We plan on promoting three types of advance technology which will answer many of the Philippines’ major problems,” said Surigao City Mayor Ernesto T. Matugas.


“While we were originally only looking to build a small plasma facility in Surigao, after meetings with Mayor Matugas, we are moving to construct a regional plasma center that will serve the needs of all of Mindanao,” said Quantum International chief executive Al Johnson.


The plasma facility will process up to 5,000 metric tons of municipal and industrial waste daily to produce electricity for the region.


Quantum International added that it will build one model biofuel project that will convert Surigao’s agricultural waste into commercial fuels.


“Once fully operational and utilized at full capacity, this new supply of clean energy will greatly reduce dependence on the normal electricity supply and will make power outages, usually common to the area, a thing of the past,” Quantum International said.


The Mindanao grid, which needs an average of 1,300 megawatts (MW), lacks an average of 50 MW to 270 MW resulting in two to four hours of rotating brownouts since January.


Quantum International said its advanced building technology is already set for commercial use in several Asian communities.


For Surigao, this building technology will be used for affordable housing projects, the company said.


Quantum International is also into construction, low-cost housing, mining operations, military and police contracts and joint venture commercial project in the US.