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Company (Meralco) indicated that the utility
firm shall be extending “payment leeway” on
the bills of its subscribers.
“We will be very considerate to customers
affected by these two successive typhoons,”
Meralco Spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga said,
referencing on the twin cataclysm – typhoons
Rolly and Ulysses – that pummeled many
parts of Luzon.
In Metro Manila, in particular, it was noted
that the worst-hit areas had been those in
Marikina City and Rizal; while other service
areas of Meralco in Batangas, Cavite, Laguna,
Quezon and Bulacan were also struck by the
recent weather mayhems.
At this stage though, Zaldarriaga
emphasized that the power firm’s priority is
“to energize the remaining areas that were
severely affected. As of Tuesday (November
17), Meralco was still working on bringing
back the electricity services of 78,803
wafer of 11.5GW, solar cell capacity at 11GW, The Idcol, as the direct access entity customers in Bulacan, Pampanga, Rizal and
and a module assembly capacity had reached (DAE) of the GCF, received the approval of Metro Manila.
11GW, was also at the beginning of a massive the funding proposal for the programme The country’s main metropolis still had
10 billion Yuan expansion programme, that titled “Promoting private sector investment 8,814 customers waiting for their power
would have taken capacities to approximately through large scale adoption of energy-saving supply to be restored as of Tuesday; and these
13.5GW inwafers, solar cell capacity of around technologies and equipment for Textile and are in Marikina, Caloocan, Quezon City,
13GW and module assembly exceeding Readymade Garment sectors of Bangladesh”. Pasig, Navotas, Valenzuela, Malabon, San
16GW. The firm has been a leader in PERC It is the largest approved funding proposal Juan, Taguig, Makati, Pateros, Mandaluyong
modules, claiming to have supplied close to for any DAE of the GCF accredited globally, and Manila.
50 percent of the modules in the first phase of the Idcol said in a press release. “While restoration efforts are still ongoing
China’s ‘top runner’ program. Under the programme, Idcol will get $250 in areas like Bulacan, Rizal and in parts of
million concessional loan for a tenure of 20 Metro Manila, toppled poles, downed wires
years with a grace period of five years for and damaged transformers and the severe
financing energy-efficient equipment. flooding in some of these areas continue to
RENEWABLES Another $6.5 million will come as affect the pace of restoration,” Zaldarriaga
technical assistance (grant) to develop explained.
Bangladesh receives enabling environment by covering areas such particularly those that are severely flooded,
He said “re-energizing these areas,
as capacity building, awareness, support in
$256.5m from Green loan disbursal and monitoring and evaluation could pose more danger to our linemen and
most importantly our customers, hence, we
of the programme parameters.
Climate Fund will be utilised to finance textile sector energy proceed with extreme caution before restoring
Out of $250 million loan, $100 million
power back.”
Bangladesh has received $256.5 million from efficiency projects, while $150 million will be
the global Green Climate Fund to promote channeled to four local financial institutions
private sector investment through large scale for financing energy efficiency projects in the
adoption of energy-efficient technologies in RMG sector. SOL AR
the textile and garment sectors. The total programme size will be $423.50
This is the first concessional credit line million, including co-financing from Idcol, China could add 48 GW of
for Bangladesh, and the first private sector local financiers and the project sponsors, Idcol
financing from the GCF in the country, the said. solar in 2021
Infrastructure Development Company Ltd
(Idcol) said yesterday. China will add 34-38 GW of solar generation
The fund was approved at the board capacity this year and 42-48 GW next year,
meeting of the GCF on November 13. TARIFFS according to analyst the Asia Europe Clean
The GCF is a fund established within the Energy (Solar) Advisory (AECEA), as officials
framework of the United Nations Framework Meralco to extend ‘payment prepare to ramp up renewables targets with
Convention on Climate Change as an president Xi Jinping’s 2060 carbon-neutral
operating entity of the financial mechanism leeway’ to typhoon victims pledge in mind.
to assist developing countries in adaptation The China-based analyst has revised up its
and mitigation practices to counter climate For its customers adversely affected by recent expectations for this year after the National
change. typhoons, power utility giant Manila Electric Energy Administration (NEA) last month

P12 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 46 18•November•2020