Wednesday, September 24, 2008 Sugar firm to put up biomass power plant
POWER generated from a plant using biomass as fuel is now available at a new sugar central in Iloilo.
This was announced by industrialist Steven Chan, chief executive officer of the Central Azucarera de San Antonio (Casa), which operates the most modern and biggest sugar central in Passi City, Iloilo.
Chan, accompanied by Department of Energy (DOE) supervisor Rey Maleza, told Mayor Jerry P. Treñas on Tuesday of his plan to generate five megawatts of power supply that will be sold to Panay Electric Company at P3 per kilowatt-hour without the value-added tax or very much lower than the power rate of National Power Corporation (Napocor).
Treñas said the power produced at the sugar central is expected to augment the total power supply in Panay Island. With a much lower cost of power, Iloilo City and the rest of Panay will benefit positively and encourage investors here.
Treñas said he welcomes investments on sourcing alternative power supply that is environment-friendly, aside from the traditional oil-based electric power plant.
Among the available alternative power sources are coal, wind energy, water energy and biomass.
Chan, meanwhile, expressed optimism about Iloilo's growth as an economic hub in this part of the country.
The Chan family operates the highly successful Binalbagan-Isabela sugar central in Negros Occidental and has been using biomass in providing electric power to the plant and households of sugar central workers.
The power plant is environment-friendly at least cost. It is considered a most viable alternative power supplier. (Lydia C. Pendon)
