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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider JG Summit to expand solar business beyond Gokongwei group

JG Summit to expand solar business beyond Gokongwei group

Published Jan 17, 2024 07:00 am

At A Glance

  • Within the core of the Gokongwei conglomerate, Go stated that the solar rooftop ventures being pursued are those with Cebu Pacific; Robinsons Land Corporation for its malls and industrial warehouses; as well as with Universal Robina Corporation for its manufacturing plants and distribution channels; while the targets beyond affiliates have yet to be divulged.

Gokongwei-led JG Summit, through its renewable energy (RE) subsidiary Merbau Corporation, will be expanding solar investments outside of the conglomerate’s span, so they can similarly help other businesses achieve their decarbonization strategies.

The forward business plan is being firmed up following the completion of the 13.811-megawatt solar rooftop installation undertaken by Merbau at the JG Summit facility in Batangas.

As emphasized by Merbau President and CEO Patrick Henry C. Go, “aside from our Group, we are expanding our RE portfolio outside the Gokongwei Group as part of our solid commitment to delivering sustainable and innovative energy solutions to eligible end-users in our drive to contribute to a greener future.”

He asserted that the company has been laying down a grand investment plan to “become a leading renewable energy company in the country.”

Within the core of the conglomerate, Go stated that the solar rooftop ventures being pursued are those with Cebu Pacific; Robinsons Land Corporation for its malls and industrial warehouses; as well as with Universal Robina Corporation for its manufacturing plants and distribution channels; while the targets beyond affiliates have yet to be divulged.

The Gokongwei firm’s initial installation at its Batangas facility had been rated highly by Energy Raphael P.M. Lotillla as “the company’s contribution to providing more renewable energy solutions.”

According to the energy chief, “this will not only result in cost savings and a lower carbon footprint but also encourages the construction of more RE resources consistent with the government’s policy on energy diversification and clean energy future.”

It is worth noting that a ramp up in RE ventures has been headlining onward project-developments in the power sector, as being cast in the updated Philippine Energy Plan.

Owing to the capital infusion of the Gokongwei group to RE projects, Energy Assistant Secretary Mylene Capongcol qualified that “transitioning to a green and sustainable economy requires pragmatic energy planning with bold actions,” citing in particular that the Merbau project “manifests (the company’s) commitment towards attaining its sustainable energy goals.”

Merbau announced last year the successful completion of its undertaking which required the installation of nine roof-mounted solar facilities within the group’s petrochemical complex in Batangas City – which has been housing its JG Summit Olefins Corporation and the manufacturing plant of Universal Robina Corporation.

“The solar installation aims to reduce power consumption sourced from both in-house and from the national grid and at the same time contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) of the complex,” the company stressed.

Additionally, ERC Chairperson Monalisa C. Dimalanta indicated that the Merbau project will reinforce the viability of solar rooftop as energy solution that commercial and industrial (C&I)  end-users would be able to lean on.

“This pioneering effort will help boost the country’s efforts to achieve energy security, while enabling this integrated petrochemical complex to shift towards cleaner sources of energy,” the ERC chief noted. 

 

Related Tags

renewable energy Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Regulatory Commission JG Summit solar PV
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