Private firm proposes biomass power plant in Bohol

CIMON BAGO Bio-Power Plant, Inc. (Philippines) is proposing to build a biomass plant that could supply 100 megawatts (MW) to the island province of Bohol. “The proposal carries the integration of another renewable source of 30 MW of solar farm energy capacity,” the company’s technical director, Wilfredo Magallano, told The Freeman. The company presented its proposal during a recent meeting with the Bohol Energy Development Advisory Group in Tagbilaran City. CIMON Bago estimates that the power demand of Bohol would likely be about 100 MW by year 2043 from the present demand almost 70 MW, Mr. Magallano said. The company, in partnership with ICE Tech, Hamada and Lotus Engineering, has been operating a similar power plant in Bais City, Negros Oriental, using the so-called giant grass (pennisetum perpurium), also known as bana grass or Uganda grass, he added. The proposed biomass power plant in Bohol would be located at Barangay Poblacion in Trinidad town, where 25 hectares of the surrounding unproductive lands would be used to grow the needed grass input. — The Freeman