By Perla G. Lena
SAN LORENZO, Guimaras, March 27 (PNA) — The presence of a wind farm in this municipality of Guimaras is expected to boost this province’s economy aside from opening more opportunities.
The 54-megawatt wind farm owned by the Trans-Asia Renewable Energy Corporation (TAREC) was officially introduced to the public, Friday.
Ramon del Rosario Jr, president and chief executive officer of PHINMA, the mother company of Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corporation, said that they contribute to the reliability of power not only in Guimaras or San Lorenzo but the whole Visayas Grid.
“It contributes to the stability of the availability of power,” he said.
“On the broader way it wasn’t really the intention it become a tourist attraction and we think it will help the economy of Guimaras first because more people are now visiting Guimaras aside from enjoying the beach and our very nice property,” he added.
Guimaras tourism officer Angie Gabinete said that the project has proven that their province “is more than just mangoes.”
She disclosed that thousands of tourists have been flocking to the area which is already a part of their tour package.
She cited a 15-percent increase in tourist arrivals since the project started last year.
The wind farm with 27 wind turbines is so far the biggest investment of their company in Guimaras. It is also their second project in the province next to the 3.4 MW diesel plant in Jordan town.
The host municipality will be earning once centavo for every kilowatt hour generated.
Meanwhile, lone district Rep. JC Rahman Nava said that the presence of Trans-Asia has “solved their problem completely” in reference to the provision of the new 138-kilovolt submarine cable connecting Guimaras and Iloilo.
He disclosed that the province used to plunge in darkness everytime the old 13.2 kv submarine cable that used to supply power to Guimaras was cut off.
He stressed that the current submarine cable is not only new but also totally free courtesy of Trans-Asia.
”We value this investment. This is not just putting Guimaras in the renewable energy sphere but the whole Western Visayas region,” Nava said.
The wind turbines spanning 14 kilometers across four villages of San Lorenzo delivers 96 to 100 percent of its capacity to the grid. (PNA)