$450-million waste treatment plant pushed
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Category: Top News
Published on Thursday, 26 September 2013 21:34
Written by Joel p. Mapiles
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—A US-based firm plans to invest more than $450 million for the establishment of a Provincial Plasma Waste-Treatment Facility for the processing and disposal of the municipal and industrial solid waste of Pampanga.
The plasma technology gasifies materials like coal and industrial waste at 5,000°C to 7,000°C, then converts them to electricity. For every metric ton of garbage, about 800 kilowatts up to 1 megawatt of electricity can be produced.
The plan will be pursued through a joint-venture agreement between the provincial government and Quantum International Group Inc.
The $450 million will finance the construction of the plant, the purchase, importation and setup of all plasma equipment and the compensation for the technology required in the plasma processing.
Merlinda Cantero, vice president of Quantum Philippines Property Holdings and Management Inc., said the proposed plasma-gasification plant would need at least 2,000 metric tons (MT) of municipal and industrial wastes daily and is expected to produce power supply not only in the province but also in some parts of Central Luzon.
Cantero said they were willing to discuss the proposal and investment with the concerned local officials and Gov. Lilia G. Pineda.
Cantero said the plant has the capacity to process and treat wastes that would help address the concern over the growing volume of municipal and industrial solid wastes in Pampanga and nearby provinces.
She identified the chief executive officer of the company as Al Johnson. It was learned that they were expecting to put up at least 10 plasma-gasification plants and close the deals —mostly with local government officials in their target provinces—within two years.
Cantero said the US-based firm led by Johnson is hoping that the local government units would be able to see the value of the technology, which could address not only garbage-disposal problems but also power-supply concerns. She said the processing of 2,000 MT of wastes could generate 2,000 megawatts. But she said the local governments could choose what products they want to produce from the plasma-gasification plant. The plant could be used to produce not only electricity but also gasoline, kerosene and biofuels. She said Quantum is open to partnership arrangements with local companies. But the US-based firm could also proceed with the project alone as it has the technical and financial capacity.
Cantero quoted Johnson as having said the only thing they require from the local government unit is their garbage, as they need a long-term contract for a minimum of 2,000 tons per day.
“Quantum needs to sell electricity at market rates. We believe the more electricity we generate from the plasma facilities, prices will come down eventually,” she added.