Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) subsidiary PNOC-Renewables Corporation (PNOC-RC) is seeking partners to help it develop at least 11 mini-hydro projects in the country.

PNOC-RC president Pete Maniego said that while they would like to take the lead in the development of these RE projects, they also want to have more private sector participation.

“We will take either local or foreign partners. Although we initiate the projects, we are a government corporation. The government actually encourages private sector initiative so we will also welcome investors,” he said.

He added they are also encouraging private investors as these RE projects normally require huge amounts of capital.

“The way you fund RE projects, these are very capital intensive, although for example hydro projects, once you finish the construction, you don't pay for fuel unlike diesel and bunker, that's why, although the initial cost is very high, the O&M (operation and maintenance) is very low,” he said.

Of the 11 projects with an estimated cumulative capacity of 200-300 megawatts (MW), two are already in advanced stages of development: the 6.8 MW Langogan Hydropower Projects in Palawan and 7 MW project in Negros Oriental.

Maniego said they would want to implement at least four of these 11 projects by next year and hope to complete the remaining projects in the succeeding years.

After disposing its geothermal and oil firm subsidiaries, PNOC has vowed to take an active role on RE development particularly in hydro and had firmed up several hydro projects last year.

It had entered into an agreement with Spanish firm Soluziana S.A. to conduct feasibility studies on the 5.6 MW Babuyan and the 6.8 MW Langogan Hydropower Projects in Palawan.