RP eyes global leadership in ‘clean energy’

LAOAG CITY – The Philippines aims to become a world leader in the generation and use of "clean" indigenous and renewable energy resources in a bid to increase the country’s reliance on local power sources while protecting the environment.

This was disclosed by Energy Secretary Vincent Perez Jr. in a large meeting here with local government and business leaders organized by the National Transmission Corp. (Transco). Perez said the Arroyo government has put plans in place to increase energy self-reliance to 55 percent by 2013.

Perez said the country aims to become the number one geothermal power producer in the world and the top wind energy producer in Southeast Asia. It also plans to significantly increase the role of hydro, biomass, solar, and ocean resources in the country’s overall power mix. He said the government is eyeing the entry of some P85.3 billion in investments in renewable energy projects in the medium-term.

Perez said the Arroyo government has already identified some 56 sites for wind power projects in the Ilocos region with aggregate potential capacities of 442 megawatts (MW). A $37-million 25-MW wind farm in Bangui, Ilocos Norte is already scheduled to start operations next week.

Seventeen sites have also been identified for potential hydro power projects in the region with combined potential capacities of 123 MW.

During the meeting, Perez also unveiled Transco’s P982.6 million San Esteban-Bantay-Laoag 230 kilovolt transmission line project proposed for funding by the Asian Development Bank. The project aims to strengthen the transmission network of the Ilocos region and is expected to be completed in 2007.

Perez also announced the expected completion this year of Transco’s P200-million San Roque Hydro Associated transmission line project in Pangasinan which will connect the $1.15 billion San Roque Hydro power plant to the Luzon grid.

The Transco project, which will help further boost Luzon power capacities by an additional 345 megawatt (MW) is expected to be completed in November this year. The Miyazawa-funded project Transco project consists of a 20-circuit kilometer dedicated transmission facility.

The hydro power plant, which straddles the municipalities of San Manuel, Pangasinan and Itogon, Benguet, was completed in April this year. It is powered by the San Roque multipurpose dam, the biggest in Southeast Asia, Asia’s second biggest dam and the world’s 12th highest earthen dam.

Both the San Roque generation and transmission projects are major steps towards achieving the country’s goal of energy self-reliance, Perez said.