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Yamato Technologies break ground on US$6.7 million Philippine biogas project

YMT Technologies & Ventures Philippine, Inc., a fully owned subsidiary of Singapore-based Yamato Technologies Pte Ltd, a renewable energy project developer, and financier held a groundbreaking ceremony for its First Quezon Biogas Corporation (FQBC) BioGas Waste-to-Energy Facility in Candelaria, Quezon Province, the Philippines. The project also marks the first overseas "foray" for the company.

Yamato Technologies breaks into the Philippines with US$6.7 million First Quezon Biogas Corporation (FQBC) biogas Waste-to-Energy Plant, marking its first overseas foray (photo courtesy Yamato Technologies). Yamato Technologies breaks into the Philippines with US$6.7 million First Quezon Biogas Corporation (FQBC) biogas Waste-to-Energy Plant, marking its first overseas foray (photo courtesy Yamato Technologies).

Held August 25, the ceremony was officiated by Macario Boongaling, Mayor of Candelaria and Kok Li Peng, Singapore’s Ambassador to the Philippines. Occupying a two ha site, the US$6.7 million biogas facility is to be built off the National Access Way at Candelaria in Quezon Province.

In the Philippines, the government has started a National Renewable Energy Programme which aims to triple the installed renewable energy capacity, from 5.4 GW in 2010 to 15.3 GW by 2030.

Treat agricultural residues

Co-owned and developed by Yamato Technologies, the FQBC facility is targeted to be completed in mid-2018. Once in operation, it will provide job opportunities for the local community. Yamato will also be sending Singapore employees to operate and manage the facility.

The 1.2 MWe plant will have the capacity to annually treat up to 14 000 tonnes of chicken manure, 7 000 tonnes of rice straw and 8 000 tonnes of corn stover supplying 9.6 to 16 GWh to the local grid. This will enable a more reliable power supply to around 6 000 households in the rural areas of Candelaria, who currently have no regular access to electricity.

The facility is self-sustaining and designed to use electrical energy generated by its power units to operate the facility. A heat recovery process further captures energy from the power units to enhance efficiency. The estimated 18 000 tonnes of by-products from the treatment process can also be used for agriculture farming.

Anaerobic digestion and biogas technology have a key role to play in global climate-change. The Bio Digester not only generates low-carbon energy and biofertiliser, it also reduces harmful methane emissions from farming wastes, increases energy security, improves waste management and sanitation. Yamato looks forward to being part of the total environmentally sustainable solution providers, said Taher Bokhtier, Managing Director of Yamato Technologies.

BOOT model

Yamato has worked closely with Tigris Water Investment Development Platform (Tigris) and International Enterprise Singapore (IE Singapore) on the project. Besides introducing the project to Yamato and providing the funding to execute the project, Tigris has advised Yamato on all key aspects of developing this project, including deal structuring, risk mitigation, and contractual arrangements with project stakeholders. IE Singapore’s in-market understanding and connections with local authorities helped Yamato to expedite their entry into the Philippines.

The rise of decentralised small-scale infrastructure in Southeast Asia presents opportunities for our Engineering-Procurement-Construction (EPC) players to enter into asset ownership and management. Yamato Technologies has taken the lead on driving a small-scale infrastructure project in a location with burgeoning demand for basic infrastructures like power, water and waste. We will continue to support them in navigating the local landscape and build its project development capabilities, said Kow Juan Tiang, Group Director, Environment & Infrastructure Solutions Group, IE Singapore.

To ensure sustainability of its business, Yamato Technologies has adopted a Built Own Operate & Transfer (BOOT) model for the first time, in contrast to the equipment and system sales model back home in Singapore. Both Tigris and IE Singapore are currently supporting Yamato on developing and executing its international growth strategy, including undertaking other BOOT/BOO projects throughout Asia.

Improvement of life quality of the community will be benefited from stable power supply, sustainable farming thru the use of biofertilizer and improved waste management system. Our team always maintain high vigilance on environmental impact and social responsibilities with all our project design consideration, said Tay Beng Boon, Co-Founder of Yamato Technologies.

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