2 power projects get BOI perks

Two energy projects aimed at addressing the impending power shortage and curb the country’s continued dependence on imported fuel has been given tax perks by the Board of Investments (BOI).

The BOI has given fiscal and non fiscal incentives to Sultan Energy Philippines Corp. (SEPC) and Montalban Methane Power Corp. (MMPC).

The combined value of the two projects amount to P3.831 billion.

The bigger project by SEPC involves the mining of the Daguma coal site. The P2.191-billion mine site is expected to provide coal for the power plant to be constructed in the area.

The site will likewise provide the coal requirements of power producers, cement manufacturers and other customers in the country.

SEPC has been given the exclusive right to explore and develop coal reserves in the 7,000 hectare area in South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat.

SEPC can mine the coal rich area until 2041. The mine can produce 3.68 million metric tons of coal per year and can create 1,100 new jobs over the life of the project.

On the other hand, MMPC is infusing P1.64 billion for a waste-to-energy conversion project within the Montalban solid waste disposal facility, a 14-hectare government-approved sanitary landfill in Barangay San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal.

It will convert gas collected from the waste landfill in Rizal into methane gas, which would then be used to generate power. Methane is a greenhouse gas with a high global warming potential of 21 times more than carbon dioxide.

The project dubbed as the Rodriguez landfill methane recovery and electricity generation clean development mechanism project is environmental friendly.

The recovered methane from the landfill cells will be used as fuel for the gas engines of 16 electric power generators.

The generators will have a combined capacity of 14.8 MW and will be placed in different stages of the project depending on the rate of gas recovery from the landfill.