A feasibility study at no cost to the city government will be conducted by a private firm to realize the dream of establishing a waste-to-energy (WTE) facility as part of Baguio’s 10-year solid waste management plan.
A memorandum of understanding was signed on April 11 by Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong and North Maharlika Energy Corporation (NMEC) President Bertito T. Palma.
The MOU is in conjunction with another MOU signed between the Philippine National Oil Company-Renewable Corporation (PNOC-RC) for the supposed development of the 6.597-megawatt Baguio WTE project in Barangay Dontogan.
Based on the PNOC-RC study, 200 tons of waste per day in the city can be converted into 6.597MW of minimum capacity.
However, change in circumstances in the intended project site to a more appropriate place demands for the conduct of another feasibility study thus the MOU with NMEC.
The feasibility study by NMEC will include resource and project site assessments.
NMEC will conduct the study in four months from the signing of the MOU provided the city government has identified its intended project site.
NMEC will also be responsible in securing permits and licenses, energy off-take negotiations, and pre-development and commercial activities for the implementation of the WTE project in consideration of an equity share in the WTE plant project.
The city government has included WTE among its long-term solutions to minimize, process, and convert the city’s solid wastes into usable, sustainable, reliable and renewable sources of electricity. – Jessa Mardy Samidan
