NGPT, Citicore Power launch FAB solar power plant project
MARIVELES, Bataan – New Generation Power Technology (NGPT) Corp. and renewable energy developer Citicore Power officially open their 37-hectare solar power plant in the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) with an inauguration program.
“We welcomed the renewable energy project of NGPT and Citicore in 2014. Today, we are very pleased to welcome anew the start of the development of this project, which will definitely provide more jobs for the people of Bataan and Mariveles,” said Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) Chairman and Administrator Deogracias G.P. Custodio.
“The Authority expresses its strong support to the project as it reaffirms our commitment to innovation and sustainable development in the FAB,” the chairman added.
Citicore Power President Oliver Tan and Citicore Power Executive Vice-President Manolo Candelaria headed the ribbon cutting ceremony. The inauguration of the 18-megawatt solar power plant was attended by local government executives led by Former Sen. Miguel Zubiri, Bataan Gov. Raymond Albert Garcia, Mariveles Mayor Jesse I. Concepcion and representatives from the Department of Energy (DoE) and National Grid Corp. Of the Philippines (NGCP.)
Bataan Gov. Garcia congratulated Citicore Power and NGPT for the opening of the project. He pledged support to the new eco-friendly energy business in the FAB.
“The solar power plant will help reduce carbon emission in the province. Therefore, it will help the provincial government achieve one of the targets of United Nation’s Millenium Development Goals, which is to ensure evironmental sustainability,” the governor stressed.
Gov Garcia added: “We in the local government thank NGCP and Citicore Power for choosing the FAB as the location of the solar power plant. We vow to continuously support this project.”
According to Citicore Power, the solar power plant is expected to help avoid 13,000 metric tons of carbon emissions per year, equivalent to planting 600,000 trees. The facility is made up of over 68,500 photovoltaic modules and is expected to power 22,000 homes connected to the Luzon grid. Construction at the plant’s site started in October of last year.
To date, the power plant already opened 300 jobs for the locals and is continuously hiring new workers.
In a statement, Citicore Power said that it is currently applying for the national government’s Feed In-Tariff (FIT) Incentive for the operations of the FAB solar power plant. The incentive is being coordinated with Energy Regulatory Commission, DoE and NGCP.
“We are committed to providing energy to the Filipino people with little or no impact to the environment, as we aim to become one of the leading renewable energy companies in Southeast Asia by 2020,” Mr. Candelaria said in a statement.
Filipino-Korean developer NGPT signed an agreement with the AFAB for the development of the Php2-billion renewable energy project in January 2014. It signed a business venture with Citicore Power for the solar power plant.
(From left to right) Former Senator Miguel Zubiri, Citicore Power President Oliver Tan, Jesus Miracle Crusade Minister James Almeda, Director Ed Saavedra, Citicore Power Executive Vice-President Manolo Candelaria, Bataan Gov. Albert Garcia and Mariveles Mayor Jesse Concepcion lead the ribbon cutting ceremony during the launching of the FAB 18-megawatt plant at Brgy. Alas-asin, Mariveles, Bataan.
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