Manila Integrated Environment Corp. (MIEC), a company majority owned by Phil. Ecology Systems Corp. (PHILECO), proposed to construct and operate a 100-megawatt waste-to-energy (WTE) facility in Smokey Mountain, Barangay 128, Tondo, Manila at a cost of P26. 648 billion.
MIEC said in documents submitted to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources PHILECO leads the transition of the country’s final disposal method of landfiling to technology-driven waste-to-energy, efficiently utilizing a valuable resource in solid wastes.
It said PHILECO is one of the pioneers in solid waste management in the Philippines.
“The construction of the project is a strategic initiative that fulfills the objectives of RA 9513 by integrating renewable energy generation with effective waste management. It will provide economic, environmental, and social benefits while reinforcing the Philippines commitment to sustainability and energy security,” the company said.
The proposed project site is within the former site of the Smokey Mountain, which was previously an open dumpsite that was closed in the 1990s.
The WTE power plant will have a capacity of 3,000 tons per day of residual municipal solid waste. Residual wastes are solid waste materials that are non-compostable and non-recyclable.
The solid waste will come from the local government units and private companies being served by PHILECO.
It is designed to generate 99.37 MW of power, of which 12.42 MW will be used for operating the plant while the remaining 86.95MW will be exported to the grid, through the Green Energy Auction Program, a mechanism provided by the Renewable Energy Act of the Philippines.
The construction of the proposed project is expected to start by the first quarter of 2026, commissioning by the third quarter of 2028 and commercial operation by the fourth quarter of 2028.
The indicative project cost for the proposed WTE project is about P26. 648 billion that will be spent for detailed engineering studies and designs, including the acquisition of necessary government permits and licenses; site preparation/development; construction of the support facilities; installation of WTE facilities; procurement of necessary equipment and materials; environmental management and protection, air pollution devices; and environmental monitoring activities.