PNOC-EC to put up energy plant powered by landfill gas

The PNOC-Exploration Corp., the oil and gas exploration arm of Philippine National Oil Co., will establish a first-ever trash-to-energy plant at the Carmona landfill in September this year, a PNOC official said.

PNOC energy research department head Jo Barsana said the setting up of a new pilot plant was a result of a successful experiment which has proven that there are considerable landfill gas (LFG) "reserves" at the garbage site.

The project, which is estimated to cost P11.43 million, is being funded by the New Zealand government through the Asian Development Assistance Facility.

Aside from PNOC-EC, the other proponents of the project are: The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

The gas reserves found in the area, Barsana said, can generate 100,000 watts of electricity, enough to meet the needs of 1,000 households.

The project, called Carmona Landfill Gas Extraction and Utilization Project (CLGEUP), is aimed at assisting the Philippines in mitigating the adverse environmental and social impact of landfill gas. The project will also help local communities hosting sanitary landfill projects utilize this energy source, thus, improving their standard of living and quality of life.

Barsana said the CLGEUP consists of two phases. The first is the testing phase which involves the feasibility study. During this initial phase, the New Zealand government brought to the country a 50-sqm test plant. The plant enables the group to measure the gas reserves in the landfill.

Phase two will involve the putting up of a pilot plant in September this year.

Based on the results, there is a need to immediately harness the landfill’s full potential since the decomposition of the garbage or the landfill gas generation is very rapid.

At present, the group is looking at several options in utilizing the power to be generated from this landfill. They are exploring two options; one is to sell or supply energy to the local community, to Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), or to existing industries nearby; the second option is to let it be used by the MMDA in its onsite operations.

Barsana said if the Carmona landfill project will be successful, they would be duplicating the same in the San Mateo landfill. The San Mateo landfill, much bigger in area than the one in Carmona, has an estimated landfill gas reserves of at least three million watts of power generation.

According to Barsana, the group will continue operating the Carmona project for the next four to six years.