by Miriam G.Desacada
Catarman N.Samar–Aiming to become the country’s green energy capital, the Northern Samar provincial government had pushed for the establishment of a hydroelectric power plant, in joint venture with a private firm, the Energy and Building Applications Technologies (EBATCH) Corporation, which has extensive experience in renewable power plant development.
Governor Edwin C. Ongchuan graced the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the 3.18-megawatt hydro power plant at Barangay Happy Valley in the northwestern coastal town of San Isidro, marking the grand expansion of power supply sourcing to benefit the communities of the province.
Ongchuan emphasized the importance of bringing alternative energy sources to Northern Samar, recognizing the value of these projects in the province’s sustainable development.
The Northern Samar government had initiated its version of the Green Lane—a streamlined version for business permits and licensing processes aimed to make investments more efficient and attractive for companies—creating an investment-friendly environment and ultimately drawing into the province projects like EBATECH’s hydro power plant.
Ongchuan said Northern Samar is fortunate to have investors like EBATECH, in addition to other notable renewable energy undertakings already underway in other parts of the province.
EBATECH, is a leading company in energy and building solutions with 17 years of industry experience, involving renewable energy projects totaling 375 MW and substation projects amounting to 535 MVA nationwide.
The San Isidro hydro power plant project is the latest addition to the company’s growing portfolio, utilizing advanced hydropower technology that harness Northern Samar’s natural resources.
This hydro power project of EBATECH will be integrated into the Northern Samar Electric Cooperative (NORSAMELCO) distribution system, generating power that bypass transmission costs.
This setup is expected to reduce power costs for member-consumers by P 0.4482 per kilowatt-hour. Half of the income of NORSAMELCO from this project will go towards reducing distribution charges for consumers, while the other half will fund improvements in NORSAMELCO’s service delivery.
This EBATECH project is not Northern Samar’s only recent renewable energy venture. Just earlier this November, Ongchuan concluded key meetings with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and Gemini Wind Energy Corp for offshore and onshore wind energy projects.
These initiatives reflect a robust and growing commitment to diversify the province’s renewable energy portfolio, utilizing both wind and hydropower resources.
These collaborations strengthen the governor’s advocacy for a bio-circular green economy, where renewable resources are maximized, and environmental impact minimized. The ongoing partnerships also position Northern Samar as a promising site for large-scale renewable energy investments, which are essential to meeting national and global sustainability goals.
As these projects unfold, Northern Samar is positioned to serve as a model for bio-circular green economies nationwide, emphasizing sustainable development and environmental stewardship. With continued support from Ongchuan and partnerships with renewable energy giants, the province is well on its way to achieving its green energy goals. —Miriam G. Desacada