Philippine Companies Not Interested in Sustainability?

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Just got this news from ABS-CBN headlined as "PH companies not interested in sustainability?". Well thank God that it has a question mark and not a period at the end of it. I don't really think that Philippine companies are not interested in sustainability since most of them are also involved in renewable energy sources development. Anyway you will be the judge. Here is a portion of the report, read the whole news here.

"BANGKOK, Thailand - If Philippine companies’ non-participation in the World Business Council for Sustainable Development is any indication, then it seems like sustainable development is not a priority.

WBCSD president Bjorn Stigson said the CEO-led organization of some 200 top global companies is happy to invite Philippine companies to join.

“We have no member from the Philippines. Only the Philippine Business for the Environment is part of our regional network… It seems to be an indication (of their lack of interest). We would be very happy to invite the Philippine companies,” Stigson told reporters on the sidelines of the Thailand Sustainable Development Symposium 2011.

Organizers had invited some 10 CEOs of top Philippine companies to participate but not one agreed to come. The symposium, which was attended by 500 CEOs from around Asia, discussed the importance of sustainable development policies as the world prepares for the future.

Stigson said the world is in transition to sustainability, and companies can no longer say it is “business as usual.” The world population is expected to increase to 9.2 billion by 2050, the majority of which will come from emerging markets, from the 6.9 billion in 2010. This will mean increased competition for resources, and immense pressure on ecosystems.

Stigson said many countries are now competing in a “Green Race,” where they will be fighting it out to become a leading supplier of resource-efficient and low-polluting technologies and solutions. 

China is poised to become a leader in the green race, since sustainable development is a key part of the government’s 5-year plan. Renewable energy investments have already reached $49 billion, already outpacing the United States.

South Korea is also a strong contender, having the largest share of government-led economic stimulus for the “green” sector. Japan is known as one of the most energy efficient countries. India is also interested in becoming a supplier of low-cost solutions based on domestic demand for its large poor population.

“This is the biggest business opportunity. There is a need for new solutions, new products, etc… There is a lot of growth. It’s a different kind of growth but it will have to be resource-efficient, low-polluting, otherwise we won’t have a functioning world,” Stigson said."

source: abs-cbnnews.com 

Dutch Firm to Develop 70-Megawatt Solar Power Project

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A 70-megawatt solar power project portfolio costing $280 million (P12 billion) will be put up in the country by Netherlands-based Sunconnex Projects BV.

JJ Samuel A. Soriano, SunConnex local unit's president said that the company is planning to set-up solar farms with 5MW to 10MW capacity ranges in Laguna, Bataan, Pampanga, Cavite and Zambales.

In addition, to attain this 70MW project, SunConnex are inspecting more sites in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao according to Soriano.

He also added that the timetable of the project is dependent on the implementation of the feed-in tariff (FIT) for renewable energy.

FIT plays a big rule on this project since it guarantees renewable energy source developers to get paid for the energy that they will produce and inject into the transmission or distribution systems.

However, Sunconnex is urging the government to maintain the stability of the country’s business climate by implementing the policies that had been passed under the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 and not to change the rules midway through the game.

“Sunconnex remains hopeful that the Philippine government will maintain stability in its policies to develop renewable energy including solar. Sunconnex hopes that the government will not change the rules and policies and proceed with the programs outlined in the RE Act,” Soriano added.

Makiling Geothermal Project's Sales Pact Signed

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I have previously posted an article regarding the 20-megawatt Maibarara geothermal project, a renewable energy source located on the western flank of Mount Makiling at San Pablo, Laguna, Philippines. Well here's an update from Manila Bulletin.

"PetroEnergy Resources Corp. (PERC) has signed an energy sales agreement (ESA) with partner Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp. for the off-take of the generated electricity from the 20-megawatt Maibarara geothermal project, which is targeted to be on stream by September 2013.

This was disclosed by PERC to the Philippine Stock Exchange.

Trans-Asia, a licensed wholesale aggregator in the deregulated power market, has emphasized in a separate disclosure to the local bourse that the ESA “covers a 20-year period.”

The energy sales pact prescribes that “Trans-Asia will purchase all the electricity output of said power facility at an agreed price, subject to certain adjustments.”

The geothermal power venture is under corporate vehicle Maibarara Geothermal Inc. (MGI) which consigns the operatorship to PECR’s subsidiary Petrogreen Energy Corporation with 65-percent stake. Trans-Asia holds 25-percent equity while state-owned Philippine National Oil Company-Renewables Corporation owns the minority stake of 10-percent.

“MGI will sell the entire output of the plant starting in 3rd quarter of 2013, when the power facility is targeted to begin commercial operations,” PetroEnergy Resources said.

The company expounded that the agreed electricity price will cover payments for capacity fee, operations and maintenance fee and annual escalation based on inflation and foreign exchange adjustments.

“The ESA will be subject to review every five years,” it added.

The project sponsors are already moving headway into the venture’s implementation. Previous deals closed had been those on engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract.

The facility will be among the capacity additions to the Luzon grid coming from conventional renewable energy (RE) resource."

source: Manila Bulletin 

Rebirth of Ambuklao Hydroelectric Power Plant

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An additional 105 megawatts of power will be contributed to Luzon grid when all three units of  newly rehabilitated Ambuklao hydroelectric power plant starts its commercial operation by October this year under SN Aboitiz Power-Benguet Inc. (SNAP-Benguet), a joint venture between Norway’s SN Power and Aboitiz Power Corp.. Unit 3 is the first to start operation as early as May while units 1 and 2 are currently undergoing trial operations and targeted to be fully operational by October. 


Portions of the electricity to be generated by the Ambuklao facility may be traded via the wholesale electricity spot market (WESM) since all the three power units of the hydroelectric power plant have already received certificates of registration as participants. As early as June, SNAP-Benguet already joined other power generators as a seller, starting with 35 MW.

SNAP had ensured that no detail was too small for upgrading. The team had replacement done on turbines, main inlet valves, generators, transformers, switchgears, control system, circuit breakers and hydraulic structures (specifically intake gates, draft tube gates and stop logs).

This will be a new dawn for one of the Philippines earliest hydroelctric power plant that started its operation last Dec. 23, 1956 but was discontinued to operate in 2000 because of uncontrolled and heavy siltation due to the 1990 earthquake.

It is interesting to note that even the earliest power source of the Philippines came from renewable energy source.