Local renewable energy developer PhilCarbon Inc. has sought the help of the US government to rehabilitate and preserve a national heritage which is the 50-kilowatt Pasonanca hydropower station in Zamboanga City.
“The power station, once rehabilitated and fully functioning, will be a national heritage that Zamboanga City can be proud of. If the US government is willing to partner [with us], the station will continue to be an American legacy that began more than 100 years ago and will [show] positive support to the people of Zamboanga,” explained PhilCarbon president Ruth Yu-Owen.
“We are committed to develop this project and we hope the US government will partner with us and help preserve the project which embodies the long-time partnership between the Philippines and the US,” Owen said in a statement issued over the weekend.
The Pasonanca hydropower station was built by the Americans in 1916 in partnership with Zamboanga City, but it stopped operating in the early 1950s.
According to PhilCarbon, US Gen. John Joseph Pershing initiated the construction the plant in 1909 as part of American good governance and management efforts. American civilian Gov. Frank Carpenter completed the project, which then provided electricity for about 4,300 people, street lights and the city wharf.
Philcarbon said that once the project becomes operational, the power station will provide a portion of Zamboanga’s energy supply from renewable sources. The electricity generated would be connected to the nearest distribution line of the Zamboanga Electric Cooperative (Zamcelco).
PhilCarbon has a service contract with the Department of Energy to develop this project and to avail of all the incentives under the Renewable Energy Law, including the possible availment of the feed-in tariff rate at P5.90 per kilowatt-hour, should the project be given an allocation from the installation target.
The rehabilitation of the Pasonanca hydropower station is reportedly ready for implementation as the feasibility study has already been completed while the Zamboanga City has reportedly given its endorsement for PhilCarbon to proceed with the project. Amy R. Remo