September 18, 2018 | 12:04 am
DAVAO CITY — Aboitiz
Power Distributed Energy, Inc. (APX), the newly formed rooftop solar power unit
of Aboitiz Power Corp. (AboitizPower), is ready to enter the Mindanao market
after starting out in Luzon and the Visayas in April this year.
Jose Rafael R. Mendoza,
APX general manager, said the market is ready for renewable energy options as
well as the opportunity to have direct power source alternatives that are
independent from distributors.
“There is an increased
awareness in environmental issues [like] climate change,” said Mr. Mendoza last
week in a presentation during the Mindanao Business Conference in Tagum City,
Davao del Norte.
He also said APX’s
solar rooftop solutions would help consumers in Mindanao reduce power demand
from distributors, majority of which are electric cooperatives.
Another AboitizPower
subsidiary, Davao Light and Power Co., is a distributor in Davao City and parts
of neighboring Davao del Norte province.
Mr. Mendoza added that
the new source is “part of our (AboitizPower) commitment to balance our energy
mix.”
The Aboitiz group
currently has a capacity of about 3,000 megawatts (MW) nationwide, including
1,272 MW of net sellable capacity under the Cleanergy brand.
It is expected to
increase its renewable energy portfolio later this year with the operations of
Hedcor, Inc.’s 68.8-MW plant in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.
Meanwhile, Romeo M.
Montenegro, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) deputy executive director,
said the entry of APX in the southern islands “will provide another renewable
source for people who want to help rehabilitate the environment.”
“This is a welcome
initiative because those who want to install solar panels will now have another
source for it,” he said on Monday.
Mr. Montenegro, who is
also the MinDA point person for the power sector, noted that he had been
pushing for the continued development of green energy sources for Mindanao as
the balance had been tilting in favor of fossil fuel following the opening of
several coal-fired plants in recent years. — Carmelito Q. Francisco
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