The 150-megawatt solar power plant in Daanbanatayan town, a joint venture between the Cebu Provincial Government and the consortium Acciona Energia and Freya Renewables, is progressing smoothly as planned.
In fact, the “Department of Energy Work Program” has been at 61% complete, Freya Renewables General Manager Fermin Alvarez told Gov. Gwen Garcia and Acciona Energia business development director for Southeast Asia Ignacio Domecq during a meeting at the Capitol on October 11.
The DOE Work Program enumerates how the different activities towards the development of the detailed feasibility study (DFS) are to be attained by the program proponents. It aims to specify the major activities and sub-activities for the development of a DFS; and discuss in detail the strategies and financial requirements to attain the Work Program.
The meeting was a special session of the Capitol’s Economic Enterprise Council (EEC), headed by Gov. Gwen. It was attended by Board Member Glenn Anthony Soco and Board Member Atty. Jiembo Borgonia; as well as Capitol department heads and consultants.
It was in March this year when Gov. Gwen signed an agreement with Domecq and Alvarez for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the solar power plant in a Capitol property in the northern Cebu LGU.
It is the first LGU-led public-private partnership of its kind in the country in the field of solar power generation and renewable energy.
Among the things that had been checked off the “DOE Work Program” bucket list are:
📌 Started the geotechnical studies in Daanbantayan with partners from Spain;
📌 Obtained Green Lane Status from the Philippine Board of Investments Governor Marjorie O. Ramos;
📌 Started working on obtaining an Environmental Compliance Certificate from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the DENR, as well as contracted Deep Earth as environmental specialist;
📌 Conducted public hearings in Daanbantayan as well as technical scoping with EMB 7;
📌 Obtained System Impact Study from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines to inject 150 MW of energy in the Daanbanatayn substation; and
📌 Conducted a bidding to six large local and foreign companies for the construction of the Daanbantayan Solar Project. These included Power China, Prime BMD, Sta. Clara, Dongfang, Spic, and First Balfour. The winning bidder will be awarded in December this year.
According to Alvarez, they will be obtaining all permits necessary to be able to cut trees and prepare the site for civil work, as well as obtain right of way for transmission lines.
They will also have to go through the process of properly reclassifying the land use which may be covered by the Department of Agrarian Reform proceedings or the Municipality of Daanantayan’s amendment to its Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP).
Gov. Gwen commended the collaborative efforts among all parties involved and emphasized the importance of regular communication to keep the project on track.
She also assured them of the Capitol’s aid in pursuing the project into fruition, which would mean additional power supply to support Cebu’s rapid growth, jobs and opportunities for Daanbantayan folks, as well as steady stream of revenue for the Provincial Government from the venture. | MARM