Mining and processing companies operating at the Masbate Gold Project are stepping up their shift to renewable energy by expanding solar panel installations on-site.
Filminera Resource Corporation (FRC) Mining Manager engineer Renel Jose Banzon said Friday that 16,000 solar panels have been installed as part of their sustainability efforts with Philippine Gold Processing and Refining Corp. (PGPRC), aiming to cut carbon emissions and fuel consumption.
“The solar panels are expected to generate 8.2 megawatts of electricity and will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 8,500 tons per year,” Banzon said.
He said the switch to solar power could save up to 3.3 million liters of fuel annually, translating to about USD2.7 million in cost savings.
“This initiative is part of the companies' commitment, mainly PGPRC, to generating clean energy. The solar farm project is installed on 8.7 hectares land owned by Filminera,” he said.
“With this, we’ll reduce our daytime use of generator sets from five to about four."
The project builds on the 2,000 rooftop panels already installed across five buildings, which generate 1.3 megawatts of electricity.
Banzon said the solar farms were installed late last year and are on track to be fully operational by August.
FRC Compliance Manager, lawyer Charles Edmund Atienza, said PGPRC is working with the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) to secure the required environmental compliance certificate.
“This solar farm project is initiated by PGPRC, which holds the permit to process the ores mined at the Masbate Gold Project. To achieve our goal of integrating renewable energy, we initiated this solar farm project as a step towards reducing our dependence on fossil-fuel generators,” Atienza said.
Filminera is also open to allocating additional land should PGPRC decide to expand the solar farm further.
“We’re confident about hitting our August launch target. The project is moving as planned, and no delays are expected at this point,” Atienza said. By Connie Calipay
Article courtesy of the Philippine News Agency
