THE Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is embarking on a P90-million project to establish a technology-demonstration project on marine current for power generation in the Philippines.

With a P10-million counterpart fund, Undersecretary Graciano Yumul said the Marine Current: Kobold Turbine Project, which is being eyed to generate 150 kilowatts of electricity per hour during its operation, is all systems go.

“We have identified the ideal site and we are now forwarding all communications to Unido [United Nations Industrial Development Organization], which will be funding the project,” Yumul told the BusinessMirror.

Yumul said the Unido will be financing the cost of the project, estimated at P90 million, while the Italian government will provide a grant for the fabrication of the Kobold platform.

The technology provider is Pnti9 de Archimede, which currently runs the Kobold Rubine Power Plant in Sicily, Italy.

The DOST-Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and Development is taking the lead in the implementation of the project, which Yumul said will help bring down the cost of electricity in the Philippines.

Yumul, who led a site inspection in Sicily, Italy, three weeks ago, said the Tañon Strait, a protected seascape separating the island provinces of Cebu and Negros, has been identified as the priority demonstration site for the marine, current power project, because of its proximity to the shipyard, the electricity grid in Cebu, its ideal marine current, the suitable depth and seabed and its good accessibility to air, sea and land transportation.  

Yumul said the construction of the Kobold Turbine Power Plant will start next year and will be completed before the end of the first quarter of 2009.

The turbine, which generates kinetic energy through marine current, will be used to generate potential energy.  It will be attached to an underwater grid to a plant in Cebu, which will convert the potential energy to electricity.

Initially, Yumul said the Kobold Turbine Power Plant in the Philippines will be powered by solar energy.  

“That’s the beauty of it.  The power plant will be operated using solar energy, then the power generated by marine current will be used to generate power for its operation, Yumul said.

According to Yumul, as part of the project’s demonstration, a town in Cebu nearest the power plant will be provided with free electricity to light up the streets.

The pro-type capacity of the Kobold Turbine Power Plant is 1.5 to 3 m/s, which is equivalent to 50 to 100 kilowatts.

Yumul that said once proven effective in generating power that will hopefully bring down electricity costs, the DOST will encourage the private sector to invest in power generation using the technology.

SPANISH investors are not worried about the lingering terrorist threats in the Philippines but more concerned about corruption and the government’s failure to respect contracts with foreign companies, said an official of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.

LOW-LEVEL bilateral trade and the falling out of economic relations since the end of the Spanish colonial era put the Philippines outside of Spain’s circle of 11 priority countries for investments.

AGRO-Commercial firm AgriNurture Inc. (ANI) is eyeing to acquire the control and management of a local dessicated coconut company after the successful buyout of juice firm Nutrilicious Co.

THE Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is embarking on a P90-million project to establish a technology-demonstration project on marine current for power generation in the Philippines.

DAVAO CITY—An Indonesian energy company has offered Mindanao investors to tap its vast tract of property in central Indonesia for biofuel-crop plantation and mass production of biofuel.

Despite the reduction in its rates owing to savings in its expenses and a marching order from President Arroyo to reduce rates to P4.11 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), National Power Corp. (Napocor) remains optimistic that it will be able to remain in the black this year.