BCDA eyes waste-to-energy tech for Clark
MABALACAT CITY—Citing the growing crisis in energy and global waste generation, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has disclosed its plan to adopt waste-to-energy technology as a renewable energy source for the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone.
The BCDA said it had identified waste-to-energy technology as a sustainable alternative to landfills, especially amid the continuous increase in waste generated in the country and globally.
“The BCDA is committed to adopting smart and green innovations to push for the sustainable development of our properties. Utilizing waste-to-energy technology, in particular, will modernize solid waste management and promote green energy, helping usher Clark’s transition toward a circular economy,” said BCDA president and chief executive officer Joshua Bingcang in a statement.
The BCDA said it is currently studying a proposed waste-to-energy facility “in an optimal location in Tarlac,” to boost power supply and serve the requirements of locators and investors in Clark. “With waste-to-energy technology, the BCDA can do its part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions while also addressing the energy requirements of our community,” Bingcang said.
According to the agency, its waste-to-energy study would include site selection and technical, environmental, social, legal, financial, and economic analysis for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the facility. Once the study is completed, the project will be opened for public bidding under Republic Act No. 11966 or the Public-Private Partnership Code of the Philippines and its implementing rules and regulations.
The waste-to-energy project is also in line with the Marcos administration’s thrust to bolster solid waste management initiatives in the country.
“It will complement the government’s Kalinisan sa Bagong Pilipinas Program, which calls for investment in programs, projects, and activities on solid waste management and ecological practices,” said the BCDA.
According to a 2018 World Bank study, global annual waste generation is projected to jump to 3.4 billion tons by 2050. Carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions from solid waste treatment and disposal, primarily driven by open dumps and landfills without gas collection systems, reached 1.6 billion tons in 2016, and is anticipated to increase to 2.6 billion tons by 2050.
