Investors eye 2 power generation projects in Butuan

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – Two Japanese companies are set to invest in power generation projects in this city, Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr. said.

Amante said EJ Holdings Inc. has expressed interest in putting up a waste-to-energy project through the operation of a sanitary landfill in Dumalagan town.

The company has already applied for a loan with the Japan International Cooperation Agency to fund a feasibility study for the landfill operation. It also signed a memorandum of understanding with the city government for the conduct of the study.

The Chodai Group, on the other hand, would like to put up a hydropower project in the province. It conducted ocular inspections here and is set to discuss and perform additional feasibility studies.

Power generation projects are among the 11 priority Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects presented by Amante to potential investors during a recent investment trip to Japan.

The PPP projects include corporate farming and agro-forestry with farm-to-market roads as support infrastructure; development of the Masao Container Port, airport and waterways; and water system and renewable energy development.

Other projects are human resources and tourism development, housing, completion of the south market or integrated business center, drainage development and major rehabilitation of roads and bridges, solid waste management, organic food production, and upgrading of the Butuan Medical Center.

Last month, a Japanese PPP research center reported that Butuan City is ideal for PPP investment opportunities in agriculture and renewable energy.

The report contained observations in the fields of agriculture, recycling, renewable energy, economic enterprise and tourism.

Recommendations included the mechanization of the agriculture industry, the conversion of waste to energy, and the use of wood pellets as biomass fuel.