Philippines: $10-M bio-charcoal facility to be built in Nueva Ecija

Philippines: $10-M bio-charcoal facility to be built in Nueva Ecija

Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija - A $10 million bio-charcoal facility will be built
here later this year that is expected to be a major source of renewable and
sustainable energy, and will provide more employment in the province,
according to the MacKay Green Energy, Inc. (MGE).

"It's European standard. So no emissions," said MGE Chairman James R. MacKay
when asked about the safety of the facility, during ground-breaking
ceremonies for the newest plantation in this province recently.

The newly acquired three hectares of land where the new bio-charcoal will be
put up is expected to hire more than 1,000 people when completed. "In this
facility, you will have charcoal, methane, bio-char, and bio-oil."

MacKay also said that the energy firm is getting closer to its goal in
helping the country become more environment-friendly.

"You don't have enough biomass in the Philippines. So at some stage, the
market will come to a point when it will have to purchase," MacKay
explained.

MGE, he said, has secured the best technologies.

"It has superior qualities to fossil based coal and can be co-fired in
existing cola power plants without the need to make drastic changes. It is a
key factor for power plants since the Greenhouse Gas Emissions can be
directly reduced," said Mackay.

The whole project will be dedicated to MacKay variety Bana Grass, which is a
crop imported by MGE that can be turned into fuel to produce energy.

MacKay said that Bana Grass is a perennial hybrid variety (pennisetum
purpureum X pennisetum americanum) which is highly tolerant to drought and
typhoons, pest-resistant and is also non-allergic.

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Link to Original Article:
http://news.mb.com.ph/2017/07/18/10-m-bio-charcoal-facility-to-be-built-in-n
ueva-ecija/

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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com