IN line with its assumed role of spearheading the development of the country’s renewable energy sources, state-owned Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) has kicked off preparations to expand its solar power services.
PNOC recently bid out the installation and equipment of solar equipment worth a total of P35.79 million in Sulu under its Solar Home Systems Distribution (SHS) Project. The company set the bid submission deadline on August 20.
PNOC used to control the largest local refiner Petron Corp. and the world’s second largest geothermal company Energy Development Corp. until the government sold these. Its petroleum exploration and development arm, PNOC-Exploration Corp., is also scheduled for privatization within the year.
PNOC earlier committed to focus on renewable energy, which was given a shot in the arm at the start of the year with a new law granting incentives to project proponents.
Its solar project began in 2002, with a 5.59 million Euro grant from The Netherlands.
The SHS project involved the installation of 15,100 solar units in seven regions, namely Regions I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII and the Cordillera region by 2007.
The second phase of the project, in which PNOC committed to install around 40,000 SHS units in the next five years, commenced last year when it purchased the photovoltaic inventory of Shell Solar, a unit of Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., for P25 million.
Prior to the purchase, PNOC acquired P17.5-million worth of solar installations from Shell to light up 15,000 households in areas excluded from the country’s power grid.
Antonio Cailao, PNOC president, said the company is “targeting at least 5 percent of the 1.68 million households which is currently the potential market for solar [photovoltaics].”
To promote the use of solar power, the company also plans to expand its distribution of solar power products to the industrial, institutional and urban residential sectors.
This includes the distribution of lanterns, streetlights, accessories, water pumping systems, telecommunications system packages, computer system packages, multimedia packages and special applications based on client requirements. –Euan Paulo C. Añonuevo, Reporter, Manila Times
World Day for Safety and Health at Work
“Safety and health at work every day!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations against serious violations of Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government
(NUG) of Myanmar.
Reject Military!
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Monthly Observances:
March – Women’s Role in History Month
April – Month of Planet Earth
Weekly Observances:
Last Week of March: Protection and Gender Fair Treatment of the Girl Child Week
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Mar 25 – International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transallantic Slave Trade
Mar 27– Earth Hour
Apr 21 – Civil Service Day
Apr 22 – World Earth Day
Apr 28 – World Day for Safety and Health at Work
