Energy group abandoned CDO bio-ethanol plant

MANILA -- Energy group Alsons Consolidated Resources, Inc. (ACR) on Monday rested its plan to develop a cassava-based bio-ethanol plant in Cagayan de Oro City due to vague provisions in the Biofuels Act, stiff opposition, and “unjustifiable delays” in the release of an environmental clearance.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), the company said it regretted the move, while blasting the Catholic Church and non-government organizations for the “apparent lack of genuine concern for the plight of the poor.”

The company added that the P2.1 billion project went into delay due to the “congressional intervention into the executive branch functions over the issuance of the ECC (environment clearance certificate).”

Last February, Representative Rufus Rodriguez, vice chairman of the House Committee on Ecology, recommended to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources that the ECC should be denied because the controversial project is located in the critical watershed areas.

source: sunstar