Naga Waste-to-Energy Project Hits a Snag

Naga City - April 19, 2011 - With documentations, contract signing and a launching ceremony already done with, a land purchase impasse yet thrreatens to delay Naga's waste-to-energy(wtE) project .

The ideal site for this project is a 20-hectare land property located near Naga's boundary with Pili and owned by Madrid Ana Zaens.  Zaens is willing to sell the property to the city government but at a price higher than the official valuation. Observers will have to wait until after the Holy Week to see whether the city government purchases the land at Zaens' terms or exercises government's right to eminent domain.

While not entirely pushing for compulsory purchase, City Councilor Nathan Sergio, Chair of the Committee on Environment and Energy, told Vox Bikol that the Zaens property is the most appropriate location for a WtE facility. Sergio hopes the contending parties return to the negotiating table soon.

The city is under pressure to fasttrack the implementation of the project from public expectation and from the project's contractor, CJ Global Co., Ltd., that is said to have already purchased the required equipment.

In August 24, 2010 Mayor John Bongat and Yeon Joo Choi, representative of the CJ Global, signed the build-operate-transfer scheme contract. Project launching and ground-breaking ceremonies took place at the Balatas Dumpsite on January 15, 2011, graced by DILG Sec Jesse Robredo and USEC George Yorobe of the Presidential Management Staff.

CJ Global shall operate the WtE facility for 20 years. Construction and equipment installation may take two years.

When totally operational, the WtE facility shall generate income, provide employment, produce electricity, hot water, steam, hydrogen and methanol for LPG-- aside from easing Naga City's perennial garbage problem.