5 October 2009 in Wordpress.com

Ambassador highlights RP-British environmental, energy partnership

The British government will continue to partner with the Philippines in environmental protection and energy security, according to the United Kingdom’s top envoy in the country.

British Ambassador to Philippines Stephen Lillie said the business partnership between the United Kingdom and the Philippines is focused on climate and energy security.

Lillie said are facing shared challenges in climate and energy sectors which can be addressed through strategic partnerships.

Lillie was the guest of honor during a dinner tendered by Green Power Panay Philippines Inc. (GPPPI) which will construct a 17.5-megawatt biomass power plant in Mina, Iloilo.

GPPPI is a part of Global Green PLC Corp, which is the Philippine company of UK-based Global Green Power PLC.

Global Green is a major investor in renewable energy sources, particularly biomass power plants.

Lillie said the Global Green’s investment in the Philippines, especially in Iloilo, is an indication of the strong bond between the two countries.

Lillie also praised the Philippine Congress for passing the Renewable Energy Law (Republic Act 9513).

“You have a fantastic Renewable Energy Law which could serve as a benchmark for the rest of the world,” Lillie said.

RA 9513 seeks to promote renewable sources of energy by providing perks and other privileges to investors.

Grace Yeneza, GPPPI director, said their Mina project is one of the quickest as they have secured an environmental compliance certificate in just six months.

Yeneza said they have also bidded out the vital equipment, particularly the boiler and turbine generator, to their potential suppliers.

Yeneza said they will buy agricultural residues such as rice stalks which will fuel the power plant.

GPPPI has signed 25-year electricity supply agreements with Iloilo Electric Cooperatives (Ileco) 1 and 2. The agreement will be presented to the Energy Regulatory Commission for approval.

Aside from clean and stable energy source, GPPPI said its investment in Mina will generate 900 direct and indirect jobs in the host community.

To date, the power firm has invested P200 million for the project. The investment could balloon to P2 billion upon commissioning of the plant.

A total of P9 billion will be injected into Iloilo’s economy once GPPPI’s supply agreements with Ileco 1 and 2 are implemented.