DBP recently inaugurated three bank-financed biomass cogeneration power plants in Isabela as part of efforts to promote new and renewable energy in the country.

DBP president & chief executive officer Francisco F. Del Rosario, Jr. said the biomass cogeneration plants will provide stable and reliable energy to rice milling firms Isabela La Suerte Rice Mill Corporation, Family Choice Grains Processing Center, Inc., and Golden Season Grains Center, Inc.

Del Rosario said the 1-megawatt cogeneration power plant of Isabela La Suerte Rice Mill Corporation in San Manuel, Isabela was the first to be constructed through a P99-million loan assistance from the bank. The said power plant has been operational for the past three years.

DBP also granted separate P144-million loans to Family Choice Grains Processing Center, Inc. located in Cabatuan, Isabela and Golden Season Grains Center, Inc. in Luna, Isabela for the construction of 2-megawatt rice husk-fueled cogeneration plants in 2007.

The power plants started operations early this year.

Using the by-product rice husk as fuel, the power plants are expected to help the rice millers lower their operational costs for energy and rice husk disposal while meeting demand for power and steam with current mill expansion.

Local officials led by Cabatuan, Isabela mayor Cid Dayrit, San Manuel, Isabela mayor Michael Carlos Dy, and Aurora, Isabela mayor William Uy joined DBP regional officers and employees in inaugurating the said power plants.

The DBP-asissted biomass cogeneration plants in Isabela (from left): the 1-MW power plant of Isabela La Suerte Rice Mill Corporation and the 2-MW cogeneration plants of Golden Season Grains Center, Inc. and Family Choice Grains Processing Center, Inc.