BACOLOD CITY—An economic zone (ecozone) will soon rise next to the newly inaugurated 132.5-megawatt (MW) solar-power plant in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental.
Mayor Patrick Escalante said that the city government is working for the establishment of an ecozone, projected to be built within a 200-hectare area, through the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.
The mayor said they have already discussed the project with partner company Gregorio Araneta Inc. (GAI).
The ecozone, which will serve as manufacturing center of solar- power panels, is projected to start operation this year, he said.
“This will again bring in billions worth of investments, even more than the solar-power farm,” Escalante added.
On Thursday officials led the unveiling of Southeast Asia’s largest solar plant worth P10 billion in a 176-hectare area at Hacienda Paz in Barangay Tinampaan.
The solar-generation facility of Helios Solar Energy Corp., which was developed through a partnership between GAI and Soleq Holdings Inc., also becomes the seventh biggest in the world.
It started connecting to the grid on February 13, and is initially dispatching an average of 30 MW through the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines.
Gregorio Araneta III, chairman of Helios and owner of GAI, who was among those who led the unveiling rites, said that the project demonstrates the country’s ability to develop world-class renewable- energy (RE) projects and establishes the Philippines’s foothold as front-runner in RE.
The solar farm is projected to produce 188,500 MW of solar power per year, or enough to energize an estimated 167,526 households, save 177.7 million liters of water, and lower carbon emission by 94,627 tons per year, which is equivalent to 2.4 million planted trees.
French Ambassador to the Philippines Thierry Mathou, who was among the honored guests, said that the project, which also involves various French companies, is the start of more investments for the province.
“This country is of great potential to be the new success story of the century not only in Asia, but also in the world, thus, more investments are needed,” he added.
Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. said that since the province already has enough, even surplus power supply, it can now attract more investors.
Former Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, who also attended the inauguration rites, said that the operation of the 132.5-MW solar farm “puts the Philippines on the renewable energy map of the world.”
Zubiri, author of the Renewable Energy Act, said the project of Helios Solar Energy Corp., will “encourage environmentalists to visit the site as an example of the transformation to renewable energy from fossil fuel.”