by RG Alama

Davao City (7 February) -- During her speech at the 2008 Philippine Energy Summit held last February 5. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo outlined the various renewable and indigenous power projects in Mindanao which aside from providing power aims to foster energy independence.

"The Sibulan hydro-electric plant in Mindanao is to be completed in 2009, the Mindanao Geothermal in 2010." The President said as she cited the major power projects in Southern Mindanao.

The Hedcor Sibulan hydro-electric project undertaken in Sibulan, Santa Cruz Municipality in Davao del Sur is a P5-billion 42.5 MW project utilizing run-off water from its rivers.

The Mindanao Geothermal Field will have a new 50-MW Geothermal plant which will utilized a new geothermal well tap in the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC)-Energy Development Corporation's Mindanao Geothermal Exploration Field in Kidapawan, North Cotabato.

"Energy security also demands the development of indigenous and renewable sources, including domestic oil and gas, geothermal, solar, wind, wave and biofuels. We have made gains in energy independence, with domestic sources having grown 43% since our administration started in 2001 and now supplying 60% of our needs." The President said in her Energy Summit speech.

Aside from hydropower and geothermal energy, President Arroyo said that the Government will be tapping solar power to light up rural homes in Mindanao.

She cited the 1-megawatt solar plant project in Cagayan de Oro City undertaken by the Cagayan de Oro Power and Light Co. (Cepalco) with financial assistance from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Trust Fund established by the World Bank (WB).