Mactan desalination plant found feasible

Japanese consultants who conduct a study in the proposed desalination plant in Mactan Island said the project, estimated at P2 billion, is economically viable.

During the second presentation of the feasibility study to the stakeholders at the Metro Cebu Water District yesterday, Tokyo Electric Power Services Co., Ltd., a Japanese consultancy firm, said the Japan Bank for International Cooperation is very much willing to fund the project.

Masahiro Sado, financial analyst of the team that conducted feasibility study on the proposed project said that MCWD can avail of the loan from JBIC through Official Development Assistance program, Export Credit Agencies finance and Private Sector Participation.

He added that the loan would be payable in 15 years at 12.5 percent yearly interest with three years grace period.

Sado said JBIC is willing to support the project, which, if realized, would have a lifespan of 25 years.

MCWD has requested for a feasibility study and funding on its proposed desalination plant to the JBIC. The study was entrusted to TEPSCO, which started it last April.

Shiraishi Masayuki, team leader of group that conducted the study said the 15,000 cubic meter a day of desalinated water that would be produced by the plant will be enough to supply the needs of 13,000 cubic meter a day by the Mactan Export Processing Zones I and II. Water price is estimated to be at P68.03 per cubic meter in 2009 when the plant starts operating.

He said that the desalinated water would only be exclusively for industrial use because of its boron, a toxic chemical, content may not be safe for human consumption.

In the proposed project, seawater would be taken from Hilutungan channel through intake pipes that are 100 meters offshore from the coastline in 10 meter deep in the sea and would be processed through reverse osmosis method.

The discharge pipe, where brine or byproduct of the plant would be discharged, is also about 600m offshore from the coastline in 10m deep to effectively diffuse and dilute brine.

Masayaki said that all the environmental concerns, which were raised during their first presentation of the feasibility study last month, were carefully considered.

On the other hand, Sado said that the desalination plant would not only benefit the economic locators inside MEPZ but also the residents of the whole Mactan Island who will have ample supply of water once the plant is operational. At present, the island has daily demand of 35,000 cubic meters, 13,000 cubic meters of which is the total water need of MEPZ I and MEPZ II.

He explained that instead of supplying the water to MEPZ, the MCWD would supply water to the residents in the island.

By the end of this month, Masayaki said that their six-month study ends but they still have to present the results of their study to the National Economic Development authority and other stakeholders for approval or endorsement. - Wenna A. Berondo