by aileen p. refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – Experts from Czech Republic who conducted a feasibility study on the rehabilitation of the city’s mini-hydroelectric plants in Tuba, Benguet dished out a very promising assessment of the facilities.

This was bared by Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. in his Ugnayang Panlungsod press briefing.

The mayor said that based on the result of the study, the facilities if totally rehabilitated can generate a total of 24,680,000 kWh of power annually which if computed based on the “redemption value of electric energy” will be equivalent to $2,307,580 per year.

The mayor said this is more than encouraging for the city which is in the thick of opening the facilities for privatization.

“This positive result definitely gives the city more leverage in its privatization plan. It naturally ups the ante for proposals,” the mayor said.

The study was conducted by the PS PROFI Ltd. Firm and funded by the Embassy of the Czech Republic in the Philippines in the amount of $28,000.
A summary of the study results indicated that the rehabilitation of the facilities would require a total investment cost computed based on “turnkey basis with using of first-class equipment” of $11,602,952. This is divided into civil works rehabilitation which would cost $6,252,545 and technological part including services at $5,350,407.

The expected revenue was calculated from the annual energy general of 24,680,000kWh and redemption value of electric energy.

City administrator Peter Fianza, action officer of the newly created executive committee to head the city environment management office (CEMO), said the results of the study will be evaluated by the technical working group afterwhich, recommendations will be made to be presented to the city mayor and the city council for approval.

The recommendations if approved will form part of the terms of reference in the acceptance of offers for the privatization of the hydro facilities. – **karitoon.com**