EDC chairman and president Sergio Apostol said they have firmed up negotiations with the group and will start with the feasibility study on the $40-million second phase wind project within this quarter.
According to Apostol, they are still trying to determine where they can put the second phase of the wind project.
"We are going to wait for the result of the studies. We are looking at other areas aside from Ilocos. We are eyeing several areas in Visayas and Mindanao," he said.
Among the areas being considered as possible sites for the two remaining phases of the wind power project of EDC include: Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Davao, and Cebu. The wind project will cost $120 million and will be done in three phases.
But Apostol said they will try to shy away from areas where there is already private sector presence. "We will not tap areas that are already being developed by private entities. It is against the government’s aim of allowing private sector investment to prosper in the country," he said.
At present, EDC is waiting for the approval of the bidding procedure for the first phase of its wind project.
He said the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), which will provide the $40 million funding for phase one of the project, will be the one to release the bidding guidelines.
"We are waiting for the (bidding) papers from JBIC," he said. If EDC is able to bid out the project this year, Apostol said, the project will be completed within two years time.
Despite the absence of bidding guidelines, there are already about six Japanese firms that had indicated plans to bid for the first phase of the EDC wind power project.
Apostol identified only three of the six interested bidders. These are: Sumitomo Corp., Mitsubishi Corp. and Marubeni Corp.
Japanese firms, he said, are expected to participate in the bidding since the first stage of the project is funded by the JBIC.
Based on the wind mapping study conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) of the United States, the Philippines has a potential capacity for wind power of about 70,000-MW.
The Wind Energy Resources Atlas of the Philippines, prepared by the NREL, has identified possible sites for wind power projects aside from Ilocos Norte. These areas include: Batanes; Busuanga and Cuyo Islands in Palawan; Casiguran and Polilio Islands in Quezon; Lubang Island in Mindoro Oriental; Marinduque; Masbate and Siquijor. Best wind resources are also found in Babuyan Island, Mindoro, Samar, Leyte, Panay, Negros, Cebu, Eastern Mindanao and adjacent islands.