June 9, 2015
Sugaronline | http://goo.gl/XJPzTy
The 46 megawatts Universal Robina Corp. biomass power plant at the URC-Southern Negros Development Corp. compound in Kabankalan City is operational and was inaugurated yesterday, Kabankalan Mayor Isidro Zayco said, according to the Philippines' Visayan Daily Star newspaper.
The URC plant, that is fired by bagasse, will sell the power it produces to the Visayas grid, Zayco said.
Present at the inauguration were Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla, John and Lance Gokongwei, and Sugar Regulatory Administrator Ma. Regina Martin, he added.
The plant is estimated to cost about PHP3 billion (US$66.5 million) and was constructed in 19 months, Martin said.
Martin said the URC plant in Kabankalan will be the fourth mill to sell power to the grid.
The three mills that have been selling power to the grid are First Farmers Holdings Corp. in Negros Occidental - 7 MW, Central Azucarera de San Antonio in Iloilo - 8 MW, and Crystal Sugar Company in Bukidnon - 4 MW, she said.