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Written by Paul Anthony A. Isla / Reporter

BusinessMirror Thursday, 16 July 2009 20:44

RENEWABLE energy company Solutions Using Renewable Energy Inc. (Sure) won a contract to construct and operate the biggest integrated waste-to-energy project in Vietnam.

In a statement, Suresaid it bested other bidders from Japan and Singapore to win the contract from San Miguel Pure Foods (VN) Co. Ltd. (SMPFV), a Vietnam-based joint venture between US meat manufacturing giant Hormel Foods Corp. and Philippine diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp.

Clarence de Guia, Sure spokesman, said the decision of the Vietnam government allows the company to form a 100-percent foreign-owned subsidiary.

The subsidiary, to be named Sure Vietnam Joint Stock Co. (Sure-VNJSC), will serve as the vehicle to implement the renewable energy (RE) project for SMPFV, which will be implemented via the build-operate-transfer (BOT) scheme. Sure controls 60 percent of the joint-venture company, while Japan’s MGL Leasing Corp. keeps the remaining 40-percent interest.

“As far as we know, the project marks the first time a Philippine company won an overseas bidding for a waste-to-energy contract,” de Guia said.

The Sure spokesman said this is, by far, the biggest waste-to-energy project venture in Vietnam and that it will be integrated into the largest single-site hog farm in that country.

The renewable energy facility, expected to cost $4.4 million, will be located in Cau Sat Hamlet, Lai Hung Village, Ben Cat District, in Binh Duong Province, where SMPFV operates a hog farm.

The renewable energy project will convert waste from this hog farm into biogas to run a 2.3-megawatt power plant.

Aside from converting waste into fuel, de Guia said Sure also committed to construct a facility that will convert sludge into fertilizer, as well as a zero-discharge waste treatment plant that will recycle used water from the farm into 100-percent bacteria-free water.

In exchange for all the benefits it will get from the facility, the SMPFV will pay Sure a service fee for every kilowatt-hour of electricity that will be generated by the power plant.

The service fee will last for only eight years, corresponding to the effectivity of the BOT contract.

At the end of the contract, de Guia said Sure will turn over the entire facility to SMPFV for free.

Aside from power and fertilizer sales, expected income from the project includes proceeds from selling certified emission reductions (CERs) under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol on stabilizing unwanted greenhouse gases. De Guia said Sure has committed to secure on behalf of SMPFV the necessary approvals for the accreditation of the waste-to-energy facility as a CDM project.

Under the Kyoto Protocol, rich countries must cut greenhouse-gas emissions by an average of 5 percent by 2012, compared with levels in 1990. These countries can make up for their commitments under the treaty by funding greenhouse gas-reduction projects, like waste-to-energy facilities, located in poor countries.

These environment-friendly projects earn CERs or carbon credits, which represent the amount of carbon dioxide avoided by these clean projects. The value of global trading for carbon credits topped the $60-billion mark last year.

Newslink: http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/companies/13305-ginebra-san-miguel-expects-improved-earnings-this-year.html

Philstar.com By Donnabelle L. Gatdula Updated July 17, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines – The Japanese-backed firm Solutions Using Renewable Energy Inc. (SURE) has bagged the contract to construct and operate San Miguel’s biggest integrated waste-to-energy project in Vietnam.

SURE said the deal was entered with San Miguel Pure Foods (VN) Co. Ltd. (SMPFV), the Vietnam-based joint venture between US meat manufacturing giant Hormel Foods Corp. and San Miguel, the largest food and beverage conglomerate in Southeast Asia.

SURE spokesman Clarence de Guia said the Vietnamese government has allowed the company to form a 100-percent foreign-owned subsidiary.

Thus, SURE Vietnam Joint Stock Co. will be the vehicle to implement the renewable energy (RE) project for SMPFV under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) scheme.

SURE controls a 60-percent stake while Japan’s MGL Leasing Corp., keeps the remaining 40-percent ownership in SURE VNJSC.

“As far as we know, the SURE project marked the first time a Philippine-based company has won an overseas bidding for a waste-to-energy contract,” De Guia said.

“SURE is also honored to find out that the waste-to-energy project is so far the biggest venture of that nature for Vietnam, and it will be integrated into the largest single-site hog farm in that country,” he added.

The renewable energy facility, costing $4.4 million, will rise at Cau Sat Hamlet, Lai Hung Village, Ben Cat District in Binh Duong Province, where SMPFV operates a hog farm.

The project will convert to biogas waste from the hog farm to fuel a 2.3-megawatt power plant.

De Guia said aside from disposing and converting waste into fuel, SURE also has committed to construct a plant for converting sludge into fertilizer, as well as a zero-discharge waste treatment plant that will recycle used water from the farm into 100-percent bacteria-free water.

In exchange for all the benefits it will get from the facility, SMPFV will pay SURE a service fee for every kilowatthour of electricity to be generated by the power plant. The service fee will last for only eight years, corresponding to the effectivity of the BOT contract. At the end of the contract, SURE will turn over the entire facility to SMPFV for free.

Aside from power and fertilizer sales, income from the project includes expected proceeds from selling certified emission reductions (CERs) under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol on stabilizing unwanted greenhouse gases.

Under the Kyoto Protocol, rich countries must cut greenhouse gas emissions by an average of five per cent by 2012, compared with their levels in 1990. These rich countries can make up for their commitments under the treaty by funding greenhouse gas reduction projects, like waste-to-energy facilities, located in poor countries. These environment-friendly projects earn CERs or carbon credits, which represent the amount of carbon dioxide avoided by these clean projects.

The value of global trading for carbon credits topped the $60-billion mark last year.

According to De Guia, SURE has organized a multinational group of partners and suppliers to package the Vietnam project. Aside from MGL Leasing as equity partner, SURE has tapped companies from India and China as equipment suppliers.

SURE has also partnered with two Danish firms, AEM Engineering and Gosmer Biogas, for the design of the Vietnamese facility, and with Philippine-based AV Garcia for the project’s power component.

MGL Leasing, one of Japan’s biggest leasing firms, is also SURE’s partner for a joint venture company that operates several renewable energy ventures in the Philippines.

SURE was organized by a group of RE and environment experts that include retired officials and consultants from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. De Guia himself headed the legal department of the DENR when Elisea “Bebet” Gozun was the agency’s head.

News Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=487364&publicationSubCategoryId=66

By: Madel R. Sabater
Manila Bulletin
19 June 2009 p.12

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has conferred the Clean Energy Financing Award on a Filipino independent power producer in recognition of its energy products in the country.

ASEA One Power Corp. (AOPC) won first place in the USAID-Private Finance Advisory Network (PFAN) Clean Energy Finance Award category. The AOPC is an independent power producer in several islands in the country , perticularyly in Palawan and Siquijor.

Winning second place was the Solutions Using Renewable Energy (SURE). It is also a Filipino-owned company with renewable energy (RE) projects in Southeast Asia.

The two bested for other finalists, namely: Clean Tech Energy Systems, Cleansave Waste Corporation, Solarco, and Longogan Holdings.

The six were chosen by PFAN as finalists during the Philippine Business Plan Competition.
All six projects had a total investment velue of more than US$500 million, comprising debt and equity financing.

The six were chosen for their potential to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by more than 1.5 million metric tons (MT) of carbon dioxide per year, according to USAID.

“The fact that they are winners make the projects more recognizable, especially to investors,” USAID regional environmental advisor Orestes Anastasia said in a phone interview with Manila Bulletin.

*SURE Eco Energy Bundle 1 Philippines Swine Waste to Energy Project

Host party(ies)： Philippines, SURE Eco Energy Philippine Inc.

Other paty: Marubeni Corporation、MG Leasing Corporation

Methodology(ies):  AMS-I.D. ver. 13、AMS-III.D. ver. 14 Estimated annual reductions*:  36,776

DOE/AE:  SGS United Kingdom Ltd.

Period for comments:  09 Jun 09 – 08 Jul 09

【PDD】

http://cdm.unfccc.int/UserManagement/FileStorage/KPTJM9Z2EC1NLSHVAQ54YRG70ODFIB

Written by Paul Anthony A. Isla / Reporter

Tuesday, 12 May 2009 18:36

USING energy the sun radiates, Japanese-led Solutions Using Renewable Energy Inc. (Sure) has energized three remote communities in Kalinga province.

In a statement, Sure said it was tapped to use solar power for the energy needs of the three barangays in Pinukpuk, Kalinga, as the mountain villages are far from the nearest transmission lines.

Sure has implemented the Pinukpuk lighting program in coordination with Kapit-bisig Laban sa Kahirapan–Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDDS), a nongovernment organization involved in poverty alleviation.

Connecting barangays Asibanglan, Limos and Ba-ay in Pinukpuk to the Luzon power grid “is not feasible at this time due to the huge cost involved,” lawyer Clarence de Guia, Sure spokesman, explained.

Pinukpuk is a municipality in Kalinga province, 530 kilometers north of Manila and three to four hours’ drive from the provincial capital of Tabuk. The nearest transmission line to Pinukpuk is about 7 km away.

“Solar power offers the best alternative in this situation, because the barangays are off-grid locations. Moreover, solar energy is environment-friendly; it creates no toxic carbon emissions, which may upset Kalinga’s ecosystem,” said de Guia.

Early this month Sure completed the first phase of its program for the barangays, which required the immediate distribution of 440 units of 12-watt solar panels. Each carries a 7-watt compact fluorescent lantern and a 12V/7AH battery.

Sure said the distribution comes under a subsidized financing program.

The second and last phase of Sure’s contract requires the firm to set up a solar-powered recharging station in each of the three barangays, which will allow the recharging of cellular phones, laptops, television sets, flashlights and handheld radio sets, powered by rechargeable batteries.

“Most of these gadgets are considered rarities in the barangays, and their absence contributes to the area’s isolation,” pointed out Roderick Dumallig, a Kalahi-CIDDS community worker, adding that the use of modern devices will break the isolation of the villages from the rest of the world.

Sure said both phases of the project cost only P2.93 million, which is a fraction of the investments needed to connect the barangays to the Luzon power grid.

“The use of lanterns has an immediate impact on the barangays by extending the productive hours of the residents, many of whom are farmers and handicraft makers,” Dumallig said.

According to Dumallig, residents usually stop working at dusk as kerosone lamps and candles did not provide sufficient lighting.

That was before the solar-powered lanterns arrived. Dumallig said the solar panels also helped residents save on expenses for candles and kerosene.

“Before the introduction of solar power, the recipients, who earn between P500 to P1,000 a month, spent half of their income on kerosene and candles,” he added.

“Now, they devote more time to their handicraft business, and they save more of their income from the cottage industry for their other needs,” Dumallig noted.

“The solar-powered lanterns also have allowed the children to focus longer on their home works. And we expect the kids to learn their lessons faster than before with the use of the solar lanterns,” Dumallig said.

Business Mirror:http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/regions/10170-solar-power-lights-up-kalinga-villages.html

Updated May 13, 2009 12:00 AM MANILA, Philippines – PHILSTAR

A Japanese-affiliated renewable energy firm has completed the first solar power project in Kalinga province.

Solutions Using Renewable Energy Inc. (SURE), an affiliate of Japan’s MG Leasing Corp., said the project will provide electricity to the barangays in Pinukpuk, Kalinga which are too far from the nearest transmission lines.

SURE spokesman, Clarence de Guia said the Japanese-backed power firm saw the need to put up the solar panels in the area as connecting to the Luzon power grid the three Pinukpuk barangays – Asibanglan, Limos and Ba-ay – is not feasible at this time due to the huge cost involved.

Pinukpuk is a municipality in Kalinga province, located 530 kilometers north of Manila and about three to four hours drive from the provincial capital of Tabuk. The transmission line nearest the three Pinukpuk barangays is about seven kilometers away.

“Solar power offers the best alternative in this situation, because the barangays are off-grid locations,” De Guia said. “Moreover, solar energy is environment-friendly; it creates no toxic carbon emissions, which may upset Kalinga’s ecosystem.”

SURE, a firm with the most diversified mix of local renewable energy projects, earlier affiliated with MG Leasing, one of Japan’s largest leasing firms, by forming a joint venture company, SURE Eco Energy Philippines Inc. (SURE Eco). The joint venture will serve as the corporate vehicle in implementing several renewable energy projects in the country.

SURE is implementing the Pinukpuk lighting program in coordination with Kapit-bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDDS), a non-government organization involved in poverty alleviation.

SURE said the first phase of the project required the immediate distribution to the residents of 440 units of 12-watt solar panels, each with a seven-watt compact fluorescent lantern and a 12V/7AH battery. This is being undertaken under a subsidized financing program.

The second and last phase of SURE’s contract requires the firm to set up a solar-powered recharging station in each of the three barangays.

The stations will allow the residents to recharge other gadgets, like cellphones, laptops, television sets, flashlights and hand-held radio sets, powered by rechargable batteries.

“Most of these gadgets are considered rareties in the barangays, and their absence contributes to the area’s isolation,” Roderick Dumallig, a KALAHI-CIDDS community worker, pointed out. “The use of these modern devices will, therefore, break the isolation of the villages from the rest of the world.”

Both phases of the SURE project cost only P2.93 million or just a fraction of the investments that otherwise would have to be raised to connect the barangays to the Luzon power grid.

“The use of the lanterns has made an immediate impact on the barangays by extending the productive hours of their residents, many of whom are farmers and handicraft makers,” said Dumallig.

“Before the distribution of the lanterns, most residents stopped their handicraft work once it got dark, because kerosone lamps and candles did not provide them sufficient lighting,” he added.

The solar panels also helped the residents save on expenses for candles and kerosene. Before the introduction of solar power, the recipients, which earn only between P500 to P1,000 a month, spent half of their income just for kerosene and candles, Dumallig said. – Donnabelle Gatdula

LINK:http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=466927&publicationSubCategoryId=66

See link:

http://cdm.unfccc.int/Projects/Validation/DB/KZA201WM31SK5XH2KHK112SW8O3VOX/view.html

By Donnabelle L. Gatdula Philstar.com Updated March 29, 2009 12:00

MANILA, Philippines – MG Leasing Corp. (MGL), a joint venture between Japanese industrial giants Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Corp. (SMFLC) and Marubeni Corp., is planning to invest in renewable energy projects in the Philippines.

In a statement, MGL said it has entered into an agreement with local firm, Solutions Using Renewable Energy Inc. (SURE) for the creation of a corporate vehicle, SURE Eco Energy Philippines Inc. (SURE Eco),  to pursue this plan.

MGL is 55 percent owned by SMFLC and 45 percent by Marubeni.

SURE corporate secretary Clarence De Guia said under the agreement, SURE Eco will be tasked to implement several identified waste-to-energy projects.

These include the waste-to-power facility of San Miguel Corp.’s Monterey hog farm in Sumilao, Bukidnon and similar biomass-fired power plants for Silangan Farms in Lipa City, Batangas Holiday Hills Stock and Breeding Farm Corp. in San Pedro, Laguna, and Santos Farms in Gen. Natividad, Nueva Ecija.

MGL plans to raise more than $3 million to construct and operate the projects that have been assigned to SURE Eco.

De Guia said the establishment of SURE Eco is timely as Congress had just passed the Renewable Energy Act.

“It gives MGL a presence in the Philippine RE business, which is becoming more popular and international in scope due to global concerns about dwindling fossil fuel stock and pollution,” he said.

MGL officer Daisuke Ishihara, in charge of developing the company’s RE portfolio in the Philippines, said with this development, “the Japanese company is considering the establishment of a Philippine office.”

SURE was organized by a group of RE and environment experts that include retired officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Its clients include companies that handle large amounts of biomass waste, like those from poultry and pig farms. It also offers its services to clients under an innovative build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract.

De Guia said under the BOT contract, SURE will be constructing and operating the RE plants on behalf of the clients.

On top of this, SURE sells to clients its electricity output at a hefty discount, approximating 20 percent lower than what its clients are paying.

“SURE commits to turn over ownership of the generator to the client within a short period of only seven years,” the SURE official added.

De Guia also said SURE client also earns from the sale of organic fertilizer and other useful by-products from the conversion of waste to energy.

SURE he said also shares with the client whatever revenues that will be derived from trading the carbon credits of the waste-to-energy facility.

By Abigail L. Ho
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:25:00 03/26/2009

MANILA, Philippines — MG Leasing Corp., a leasing company owned by Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Corp. and Marubeni Corp., has formed a joint venture with local firm Solutions Using Renewable Energy Inc. (SURE) to handle renewable energy projects in the country.

The joint venture, Sure Eco Energy Philippines Inc., is 60-percent owned by the Japanese group and 40 percent by SURE.

In a statement, SURE corporate secretary Clarence de Guia said the joint venture would assume several waste-to-energy projects currently under the SURE portfolio.

These include a waste-to-power facility of San Miguel Corp.’s Monterey hog farm in Sumilao town in the southern province of Bukidnon and biomass-fired power plants of Silangan Farms in Lipa City, Batangas, south of Manila; Holiday Hills Stock and Breeding Farm Corp. in San Pedro town, outside Manila, and Santos Farms in General Natividad town in the northern province of Nueva Ecija.

In exchange, MG Leasing will generate the additional funding needed to put up and run these projects, De Guia said. Its investment infusion amounts to more than $3 million, he added.

MG Leasing’s Daisuke Ishihara said establishment of the joint venture could prompt the Japanese firm to put up a Philippines office.

SURE holds a wide range of renewable energy projects, for companies that handle huge amounts of biomass waste, such as those in the poultry and hog businesses, De Guia said.

Using technologies developed in-house, it serves clients on a build-operate-transfer scheme, and spares clients from putting up capital to construct a facility to dispose of or treat their waste materials, he said.

SURE also sells to clients the electricity it produces, he added. With editing by INQUIRER.net