Monday, February 20, 2006
Activated carbon production pushed in Sarangani
SARANGANI, as the third largest producer of coconut in the country, is looking for investors in activated carbon processing, a trade official said.
Nenita Barroso, provincial director of the Department of Trade and Industry, said the effort is geared towards increasing the income of small coconut farmers in Sarangani and adjacent provinces.
"There is a great location advantage in establishing an activated carbon plant in Sarangani where materials are easily accessible. The product is saleable in both domestic and international markets," said Barroso.
Activated carbon is used in industrial chemical processing, purification system, solvent recovery processing, medical preparations, and gas filtration.
The raw material for activated carbon is charcoal, which is abundant in the province particularly in Glan town.
Charcoal is one of the by-products of coconut, which money making potential largely depend on its meat or copra.
Barroso said the provinces of Davao del Sur and Maguindanao, which are also major coconut producers, would also benefit from an activated carbon plant due to their proximity to Sarangani.
The expanded Makar Wharf would boost the direct export of activated carbon should a locator decides to come in, added Barroso.
Presently, coconut charcoal from the province is transported to Davao City for processing into activated carbon.
Sarangani accounts for over one million metric tons or eight percent of the country's total coconut output.
Barroso said that some P80 million capital is needed to put up the medium scale enterprise project, of which Sarangani coconut farmers could chip in a counterpart fund of P15 million.
She added that the setting up of an activated carbon plant would diversify the province's economy and generate employment for the residents. (RBS)
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(February 20, 2006 issue)
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