Hybrid power project referred to committee

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City Council has referred to the Joint Venture Selection Committee (JVSC) the proposed joint venture agreement between the city government and Cosmo Solar Energy, Inc. that will establish a 200 MW Hybrid Power Project in the city.

This, after the the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CCDRRMC) requested for a proposed resolution by the council to interpose no objection for such proposed JVA.

As provided in the CCDRRMC resolution, the proposed joint-venture agreement is a two-part project wherein the first part is the initial of 200 MW to be installed and contracted at Visayan Electric Company, Inc. (VECO) followed by couple of tranches.

The second part of the project is an offer of a subterranean tunnel system to secure and embed the electrical/communication, potable water system, and future gas line.

CCDRRMC said Cebu City suffered great loss after Typhoon Odette disrupted critical lifelines such as but not limited to food supply chain, electricity and potable water system, and restoration of these took much longer than expected.

The city experienced a blackout throughout the city resulting to delayed updating and monitoring on the damages left by the onslaught of the super typhoon.

Last January 12, 2022, the Sangguniang Panlungsod invited Mayor Michael Rama to an online session to provide his concrete recovery plan after Typhoon Odette hit the city.

“Mayor Michael Rama expressed his desire for the City of Cebu to have its own powerplant that can supply at least 200 megawatts and at most 400 megawatts in order to prevent loss of power during super typhoons,” read CCDRRMC Resolution No. 11 series of 2022.

Cosmo Solar Energy, Inc., a Department of Energy (DOE) and Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) registered independent power producer (IPP) that has been providing emergency power supplies in Mindoro and other calamity areas, presented to the CCDRRMC its offer for a joint-venture agreement with the city government at zero cost to the city.

“At this time, we are submitting our proposed Joint-Venture Agreement project which includes part 1 & part 2 of the Cebu City Preventive Rehabilitation Program to address the calamity-hit area and shall never again experience the Utility Islanding dilemma where Cebu Island doesn’t have its own enough embedded generating facility to support its basic demand,” read the letter of Cosmo Solar Energy, Inc. President and CEO Rudy Golez, Jr. addressed to Rama.

“This proposal has many details to counter the grid dependencies in case of emergencies in the future brought upon by typhoons, and other natural disasters as part of the City's future plan for stability and reliability. Other Terms and Conditions are to be discussed in more details per the council's guideline with the Technical Working Group from respective government and private agencies such as VECO (Visayan Electric Company, Inc.), DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways), MCWD (Metropolitan Cebu Water District), PLDT (Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company), and many more,” he added. — JMD (FREEMAN)