DoE bats for waste-to-energy bill

THE Department of Energy (DoE) is hoping for the immediate passage of a measure that will further support the use of waste-to-energy (WTE) technology to help solve flooding problem in the country.

“We pushed for it in the last three years… I think (President Ferdinand R. Marcos) is very supportive of this, so hopefully, the waste-to-energy law will finally be passed,” Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin told reporters last week.

A waste-to-energy bill is among the priority bills identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council in the 19th Congress. The measure was approved on third reading by the House of Representatives but remained pending for second reading in the Senate before it adjourned sine die in June.

WTE is a process that burns waste materials to produce steam and generate electricity.

“One thing about WTE is that it is more of an environmental activity rather than an energy one. What we’re really doing is making the environment cleaner by using waste and transforming it into energy,” Ms. Garin said.

“We’re hoping that with the support of Sen. (Sherwin T. Gatchalian) and Sen. (Pia S. Cayetano), there will be renewed interest in the WTE bill,” she said.

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority earlier said that Indian engineering firm Uttamenergy Ltd. and its local partners Global Heavy Equipment and Construction Corp. and ATD Waste-to-Energy Corp. will invest P4 billion in a WTE facility in New Clark City.

The group is targeting to commence construction within two years and start commercial operations within three years of contract signing. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera