PetroEnergy unit gets permit for Palawan solar-power plant

By Lenie Lectura – July 31, 2017

from Business Mirror

THE subsidiary of PetroEnergy Resources Corp. has secured environmental permits for its solar power project in Puerto Princesa.

“The proposed 10-megawatt [MW] Puerto Princesa solar-power project of PetroGreen Energy Corp. [PGEC] secured two vital environmental clearances necessary for facility development and operation,” PetroEnergy said on Monday.

PGEC, which is engaged in investment and operation of renewable-energy projects, secured an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) on July 28 from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) Region 4B.

In approving the project ECC, the DENR agency noted that PGEC has satisfied all the requirements for the ECC application and cited the key conditions and measures expected of PGEC during project implementation.

Prior to the issuance of the ECC, PGEC also secured from the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) in June a Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) clearance for the same project in Puerto Princesa City.

Separately, the local government units of Puerto Princesa have earlier formalized their support for the solar project when various clearances and resolutions in favor of the facility were issued by the barangay, city environmental and natural resource office (Cenro) and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial council).

PGEC’s solar facility is expected to be the first green and renewable energy-sourced power facility in the city and the province. Puerto Princesa and the province of Palawan are known as the country’s nature frontier. These areas currently derive power from diesel and bunker plants.

PGEC is also negotiating with the Palawan Electric Cooperative (Paleco) the technical requirements for connecting the facility to the Paleco grid system. The facility, which has a contingent battery storage, will help mitigate the debilitating power problems plaguing the city of Puerto Princesa.