Department of Energy eyes 80 new contracts for renewable energy projects

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Energy (DOE) expects to sign more than 80 new contracts for renewable energy development projects next month.

DOE assistant secretary Mario Marasigan said they are currently completing the list of the RE contracts.

“We are still in the process of completing the list of contracts. We’re looking at the same number if not more,” he said.

Recently, the DOE awarded 87 renewable energy contracts to 18 companies for development of biomass, geothermal, solar, hydropower, ocean and wind energy resources.

The contracts were made pursuant to Republic Act 9513, otherwise known as Renewable Energy Act of 2008.

The new contracts involved five conversions from existing service contracts and agreements on geothermal and 17 on hydropower.

New renewable energy projects composed the remainder of the contracts, which altogether are anticipated to generate a total of 4,042 megawatts (MW) of electricity, of which 1,257 MW constitute additional electric power capacity. The projects entailed investments in the total amount of approximately P90.4 billion.

Without rushing things we can make an announcement by next week, within the National Energy Consciousness Month,” Marasigan said.

According to Marasigan, they are reviewing the contracts to improve them.

He said the developers are asking the DOE to look at some provisions that may need some revisions.

Marasigan said the DOE is also seeing to it that the commitments that these RE companies made will be implemented.

“We are looking at each line of their proposals. We are also trying to look at their work activities. If these would be implemented or not. We would want to firm up when they say they will start their operations that they have capacity to do it,” he said.