Basic Energy Corporation (BEC) has announced that its Cadiz 1 solar project in Negros Occidental has received a certificate of authority (COA) from the Department of Energy (DOE).
In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on March 26, BEC said that the COA will allow it to “move forward with critical development activities, including obtaining approvals from national agencies and local government units.”
The company will also work with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to carry out a System Impact Study, ensuring smooth integration with the grid.
The COA allows a renewable energy developer to obtain the required permits and legal documents for activities such as the exploration, development, and operation of a renewable energy project.
(Also read: Negros Occidental Strengthens Renewable Energy Campaign)
500 MW of solar by 2030
Based on a preliminary assessment by an independent third-party firm, the Cadiz 1 solar power facility will span around 30 hectares and is expected to produce a peak generation capacity of at least 43 megawatts (MWp).
“This milestone reinforces our commitment to expanding renewable energy solutions in the Philippines. Basic Energy Corporation is eager to advance the Cadiz 1 Solar Power Project and will provide updates as it progresses,” said Oscar de Venecia Jr, Basic Energy’s vice chairman.
The company also previously announced that it had received a COA for its solar power project in Mariveles, Bataan, which has a potential capacity of 62 MW.
These projects are part of Basic Energy’s plan to build a 500-MW solar energy portfolio by 2030, along with a target of 500 MW in wind energy generation.
“We want to be a long-term participant in the energy sector. We have been here since the first discovery of oil in the Philippines. We were part of that,” de Venecia told BusinessWorld.
“Now, things have changed, and people are looking at different [sources] now. We want to be a part of that. As we keep growing, we also want to see where we can participate in bringing newer technologies later on,” de Venecia continued.
(Also read: DOE Backs 16 Offshore Wind Projects in Western Visayas)
Sources:
https://edge.pse.com.ph/openDiscViewer.do?edge_no=5faf7ce63f40b41dec6e1601ccee8f59
https://doe.gov.ph/sites/default/files/pdf/issuances/dc2024-06-0018.pdf
https://mb.com.ph/2025/3/26/basic-energy-secures-coa-for-solar-project-in-negros-occidental
https://edge.pse.com.ph/openDiscViewer.do?edge_no=d513b31559cb2cbbec6e1601ccee8f59