Filinvest ventures into renewable energy

MANILA, Philippines — The Filinvest Group, the conglomerate of the Gotianun family, is developing a renewable energy project through its power arm FDC Utilities Inc. (FDCUI).

FDC Renewables Corp., a subsidiary of FDCUI, is developing a 26-megawatt Pampang Hydro Power Project, which will soon rise in the municipalities of Santa Fe in Nueva Vizcaya and San Nicolas in Pangasinan.

FDCUI president and CEO Juan Eugenio Roxas said the Filinvest Group recognizes the need to develop renewable energy amid the country’s growing energy requirements.

“Filinvest recognizes the need for the country to develop renewable energy sources to have a balanced energy mix and attain energy security. We have been working on this project for quite a while now and we hope to fast-track its completion. Such efforts are in support of the government’s constant drive towards sustainable energy development in the country,” he said.

Roxas said the government’s Build Build Build projects would raise electricity consumption.

“This project, among many others, intends to curb the supply gap we might experience,” he said.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has granted the project a Certificate of Confirmation of Commerciality last month.

With the issuance of the certification, FDC Renewables now has the green light to proceed with the construction of the project until commercial operations subject to securing necessary permits and licenses from concerned government agencies and local government units.

The project will utilize the Pampang River through a run-of-river (ROR) scheme, which would utilize the natural flow of the river to generate energy. A low dam across the river is enough to regulate its flow hence considered far more eco-friendly.

This is unlike conventional hydroelectric plants that create large reservoirs that may cause flooding, FDCUI said.