Mindanao grid set to get boost

Texas-based Quantum International plans to put up biomass facilities in Mindanao, not only to treat municipal and industrial solid waste but to also shore up power supply in the island.

In a recent statement, the city government of Surigao and Quantum jointly announced contracts for major energy and commercial projects in Surigao.

These projects include the construction of a regional plasma gasification plant that will serve not only Surigao, but also other provinces in Mindanao.

“This facility will handle the treatment of municipal and industrial solid waste while producing massive amounts of electricity for the entire region.  Also agreed upon was at least one model biofuel operation for the treatment of agricultural waste,” the statement read.

“We are presently completing contracts for Mindanao’s first plasma gasification facility in Surigao,” the statement quoted Quantum International CEO Al Johnson as saying.

“While we were originally only looking to build a small plasma facility in Surigao, after meetings with Surigao City Mayor Ernesto T. Matugas, we are moving to construct a regional plasma center that will serve the needs of all of Mindanao,” Johnson said.

This “model” plasma facility, according to Johnson, will eventually process up to 5,000 tons of municipal and industrial waste daily, while producing up to 5,000 megawatts of electricity to be supplied to the entire region for its continued growth.

“To supplement this, we will also construct one model bio fuel operation to convert the area’s agricultural waste into commercial fuels,”  he added.

Once it runs at full capacity, the facility will greatly reduce dependence on the normal electricity supply and will make power outages, usually common to the area, a thing of the past, Johnson said.