By Ma. Elisa P. Osorio (The Philippine Star) Updated January 20, 2010 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - The government has approved the creation of the P55-million Cavite Biofuels Ecozone in order to ramp up alternative fuel production in the country.
Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General Lilia B. De Lima approved the investment of Filipino- owned Cavite Biofuel Producers Inc. (CBPI) last Jan. 15.
The bio-fuel ethanol plant will be located on a 24.5699-hectare property in Barangay Caluangan, Magallanes, Cavite which shall then be registered with PEZA as an Agro-industrial Economic Zone upon the issuance of the required presidential proclamation.
CBPI is a special purpose company that intends to build, own and operate an integrated ethanol distillery and power cogeneration plant with a capacity of 125,000 liters per day and a power generating capacity of approximately 5 MW.
The bioethanol that will be produced by the project will support the local agricultural industry as the project will source sugarcane grown within the country.
Increased demand for bioetahnol also supports the local economy by creating new employment and income opportunities with approximately 1,500 workers to be employed during the plant construction and another 200 during operations. Approximately 600 farming families are likewise expected to benefit by supplying sugarcane to the project.
The proposed project site is suitable for the development of a bioethanol plant in view of availability of product transport facilities and plant logistics, cane sources and land for expansion, and the favorable agro-climatic conditions for sugarcane production and distillery operations.
The project is likewise well supported by the Local Government Units of Cavite. The project site is currently owned by Lobo-Lobo Development Corp. (LLDC). CBPI and LLDC intend to sign a Conditional Purchase Agreement with the intention of finalizing the transfer of the property prior to financial closure.
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