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Sunday Post

      With the race towards tapping  renewable energy getting more intense every passing day as soaring prices of fossil fuel breaching the $140/barrel mark, it appears that the municipality of Sevilla is in the right track in developing its hydro power sources.

      This explained why Mayor Ceferino Digal is bullish about Sevilla becoming the hydro capital of Bohol after the 2.5 MW Boheco 1-Sevilla Mini Hydro Project is fast taking shape and its a matter of months that it will be completed.

      According to Virgilio Fortich, project manager, even if the Sevilla hydro project is completed, still the province of Bohol  needs more electric power especially during peak hours.

      The combined electricity generation of all the power plants marketed by the electric cooperative is about 18.5 MW including the Sevilla power source. The coop is sourcing its electricity for distribution to its consumers  from the Bohol Diesel Plant in Dampas, the hydro plants in Loboc and Hanopol in Balilihan. When the Sevilla project is completed, it will be counted as another energy provider.

      With a total energy requirement of 30 MW during peak hours, the shortfall is provided by the Leyte-Bohol Interconnection Project.

      Told that the upper Sevilla Mini-Hydro Potential is being eyed by a Cebu-based company as another energy source, Fortich expressed elation that it will boost Bohol' s increasing energy needs. Boheco will also market its electric produce once it will be completed since its role is only to generate hydro power.

      The Adnama Mining Resources, Inc. thru its VP for planning, engineering and development has proposed to Mayor Digal to tap the upper Sevilla hydro source.

      This company is reportedly owned by the Zamora brothers, the same businessmen behind the massive mining operations of nickel deposits in Nonoc, Surigao.

      Its Boholano partner is said to be Fernando Borja, a businessman identified with the clan along Burgos St., this city.

      A consultant of the company, Ed Walag, had already made preliminary talks with Mayor Digal about its intent to develop the upper portion of the Loboc River which stretches all the way to Sevilla.

      Following preliminary negotiations, it was gathered that the Sangguniang Bayan was supportive about the plan.

      In a letter to Digal, the mining company said since the country is experiencing impending economic challenges due to rising prices of oil products and fuels, there is a need to develop alternative sources of energy.

      The company said its interest to develop the mini-hydro power potential of Upper Sevilla will also complement the on-going project undertaken by Boheco I in cooperation with the local government of Sevilla.

BOHECO I PROJECT

      When finished, the Sevilla mini-hydro project  undertaken by Boheco I was funded by a loan obtained from the Development Bank of the Phils. in the amount of P259 million.

      The total project cost, however, is P331,129,000.00.

      Designed to serve the franchise areas of Sevilla, Balilihan, Catigbian, Batuan , Carmen and Bilar, it has a capacity of 1.25 MW with two Kapian turbines or a total output of 2.5 MW.

      An accomplishment report showed that the dam, sluiceway and auxiliary mechanical equipment is already 100% complete. Another part of the project-the construction of the powerhouse, intake and tailrace structures, is also 100% finish.

      The entire project is expected to be finished by the third quarter of this year.

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