ERC issues permit to Aurora power plant

MANILA, Philippines - The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), the state-owned regulator for the power sector, has issued a Certificate of Compliance (COC) to EcoMarketSolutions Inc. (EMS) for its new 250 kilowatt Biomass Gasification Power Plant.

In its decision, the ERC said it found EMS compliant with the technical, financial, and environmental requirements set by the commission through the Revised Rules for the Issuance of COCs for Generation Companies/Facilities.

The ERC formally awarded the COC last Feb. 4.

Furthermore, the ERC also noted that EMS has secured the necessary clearances, licenses, and permits required by other government offices to operate a power plant. 

EMS’ 250 kW power plant in Brgy. Dibaraybay, Dinalungan, Aurora Province is the first phase of its Aurora province power plant project.

This plant started commercial operations on Jan. 15 and was designed to operate 24 hours a day in three shifts.

The second phase is set on April 2013 for a second 250 kW biomass gasification unit.

A future phase of the power plant project involves a 1.5-MW biomass gasification power plant to be located in Brgy. Lawang, Dilasag, Aurora Province in December 2013, the ERC also said.

Together, the three power plants of EMS will have an aggregate capacity of 2 MW to serve the  Dinalungan, Casiguran, Dilasag and Dinapigue areas in Aurora through a power supply agreement (PSA) with the Aurora Electric Cooperative Inc. (AURELCO).

The biomass plant uses coconut shell and husk, corn cob, rice husk and wood branches and twigs as fuel.

EMS is a company engaged in the business of power and electricity generation.  It was founded by Gao Pronove, a United Nations retiree and Robbie Mathay, a global oil industry retiree.