By MARK FRANCISCO
THE Department of Energy (DOE) is eyeing Cagayan de Oro City as one of only three locations nationwide for its touted waste to energy ambition, according to city local environment and natural resources officer Armen Cuenca.
In an interview August 22, Cuenca said representatives from the DOE central office visited the city’s sanitary landfill last week and were impressed by its operation, paving the way for the city to be a pilot location.
Cuenca said that once the project is approved by DOE, it would be announced before interested investors that would convert the waste in the landfill at barangay Pagalungan into refuse-derived fuel.
Before the project is approved, it would have to be greenlit by the City Council first, Cuenca pointed out.
According to DOE data, there are six existing waste to energy facilities in the country – all generated from private wastes.
If plans don’t miscarry, this would be the first time that a local government unit is tapped to produce the waste to be converted to energy.
As of press time, Cuenca could not speculate though if councilors here are open to the idea.
DOE has long advertised its waste to energy thrust but many LGUs are not receptive to the proposal, fearing that it would run counter to the intent of the Clean Air Act.
In the waste to energy concept, wastes are first incinerated to produce fuel, thereby releasing harmful gas into the atmosphere.
But in past statements, DOE assured the public and most especially LGUs that strict regulations are in place for such operations.
