Biomass Project in Himamaylan: The First in Negros
Located in the center-most cove on the coastline of Negros Island and with Negros being central to Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, Himamaylan City is conducive to operations reaching all parts of the country and the rest of the world from a strategic point. Aside from that, most portions of the city are plains and generally have fertile soil which is conducive for agriculture.
One of the abundant crops that can be found in Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City is Napier grass or Mackay Bana grass. This crop is C4 or warm-season plant and can grow well in marginal land. The grass grows tall and forms large clumps like bamboo. It produces huge biomass and can be harvested three times a year for biomass which making it a good raw materials for biofuel and other biochemical production. Napier grass or Bana grass is planted in marginal lands and slopes to help increase soil fertility and to reduce soil erosion. Presently, there is a total of 80 hectares of Bana grass being planted in the said barangay while the production of charcoal is situated at Sitio Ilahud, Barangay To-oy, Himamaylan City. Aside from that, a total of more than 300 hectares of Bana grass is planted throughout the Negros Island.
With its lavishness in the city of Himamaylan, the Mackay Green Energy Inc. (MGE) with the partnership with the Local Government Unit (LGU), the MGE will be providing Bana grass as biomass to the power plants as substitute to address the scarcity of bagasse used as fuel for electricity generators.
Launched in 2010, Mackay Green Energy Inc. focuses on the development of various renewable energy systems designed to efficiently convert Biomass to energy, fuels and bio-products. The company not only complies with the standards but also opts to utilize green technologies in its mission to bring renewable and sustainable energy to the Philippines. With this, it created regular jobs for Filipinos and annually helped by donating in the Philippine National School for the Blind everything the school needs.
Along with this project, MGE had a partnership with Mosser Environment Corporation. Mosser is engaged with the Forest Plantation in Negros that started in 2004 which currently holds 8, 000 hectares in central Negros specifically Himamaylan, Binalbagan, Isabela and part of Magallon. Mainly that time the corporation focuses on the rehabilitation of most of denuded areas in the province. Now the corporation is engaged in renewable energy producing fuel for renewable energy sector. Mosser believes that with the partnership, this will support the urban sectors. The main thrust is to support the upland areas of the partner LGU.
With the presence of Mr. Ian Canson, CEO of Mosser Environment Corporation together with the Operations Head-PH of Mackay Green Energy Inc., Mr. Jerson Nolasco and Hon. Rogelio Raymund I. Tongson, Jr., Himamaylan City Mayor, signed a 15-year contract of the Biomass Project last August 13, 2020 at Mosser Group of Companies Compound, Barangay Talaban, Himamaylan City.
In the light of this partnership, there will be a big economic impact on the social communities. With this project, it can serve as a model and a pioneer project that will provide sustainable jobs to upland farmers of Himamaylan for every 3 to 6 months there will be harvesting of the product and it needs 30 to 50 people on the ground. For the biomass department, this project would target 20 to 30 people for the production. Also there is a plan to put up a 5-megawatt power plant in city.
With this partnership, Mr. James Mackay, the Chairman of Mackay Green Energy will always be in debt to the Filipino people by giving their lands and accepting the new green revolution that will happen not just in Negros Island but in the whole country. This agreement is just another start of new hope for something great.
By planting more Bana grass in Negros and other parts in the Philippines, we are creating a Carbon bank that is responsible of saving the environment from Carbon Dioxide (CO2) since Bana grass is just one time planting in 25 years and with the root system of 2 meters deep, it is a great grass that is a blessing to help the poor community in the Philippines thru another channel which is Carbon sequestration and the Carbon credits.
During the interview, Mayor Tongson thanked Mosser and Mackay for this project. He added that this could give hope and organize the people in far flung areas by giving them sustainable livelihood.
Indeed, Mackay Green Energy is for the Filipino people. This is the new green revolution for the Philippines and soon to the world!
See original article here: https://web.facebook.com/rhafie.alayon/posts/3115615798492233
