UPGRADING and modernizing the Asin hydro mini power plants is a call of city officials, said Czech Republic Ambassador to the Philippines Josef Rychtar.

The ambassador and some members of the Czech Renewable Energy Alliance (Crea), the group that did a feasibility study on the city-owned power plants, were in Baguio Tuesday to follow up on plans of the City Government, following their submission of the feasibility study.

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“We look forward to continuing with the project. We heard Baguio City was satisfied with the study done,” the ambassador said.

Although there are no final talks yet, assistance that can be extended by his government may include provision of machines. He did not elaborate though if this will be donated, sold or offered through a loan or a grant. He said it is best for city officials to decide first before talks could begin.

CREA’s export alliance manager Bàetislav Skàcel echoed the ambassador’s observation.

He said if the power plants were modernized, its energy production capacity will increase.

Tuba Mayor Florencio Bentrez on March this year, wrote city officials asking that as assistance to the host municipality, un-energized areas in the town should be energized using production from the power plants.

The City Council decided Tuesday to archive the request, pending decision of whether to privatize the facility or not.

In a feasibility study done by the Czech Republic, upgrade is estimated to cost US$11,602,942. The cost involves civil works rehabilitation, technological and personnel service upgrading and investment cost. Despite the cost, the team said if fully rehabilitated, the power plants can generate as much as 24,680,000 kilowatt-hour (kwh).

The Czech team estimates annual revenues of over US$2 million recovery of investments in five years. (Rimaliza Opiña)