NAGA CITY—Public scoping for the country’s first offshore wind power project was held on Friday morning, April 11, in San Isidro, Naga City. Local stakeholders, government officials, and project developers discussed the proposed renewable energy initiative set to rise in San Miguel Bay, Calabanga.
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) is leading the project through its local arm, CI NMF Philippines Corporation, in collaboration with consultancy firm GHD. It marks a major step forward in the Philippines’ efforts to transition to renewable energy.
What is a “Public Scoping”?
Public scoping is part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, where stakeholders, including the public, are encouraged to take part in defining the range of possible environmental effects of a project. The goal is to pinpoint significant issues, collect concerns, and provide guidance for the development of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
This activity promotes transparency and inclusivity in the EIA process by engaging the public from the beginning. It facilitates the recognition of possible environmental effects and the formulation of appropriate measures to mitigate them.
It allows the community to actively participate and gain insights into the proposed project while also sharing their opinions on its possible environmental effects. The feedback collected during the public scoping phase helps to fine-tune the EIA, which involves pinpointing major concerns, creating a comprehensive project overview, and drafting the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the EIS.
Public scoping plays an essential role in establishing trust between the project sponsor and the community, ensuring that environmental issues are taken into account, and enhancing the overall quality of the EIA.
Project Details
Spearheaded by Copenhagen Infrastructure New Markets Fund (CI NMF) Philippines Corporation, in partnership with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), this project is estimated to become operational by 2028 and is currently in its pre-development early-stage phase. CI NMF is the first 100-percent foreign-owned company to be awarded Offshore Wind Energy Service Contracts (WESC) by the Department of Energy (DOE)—giving them access to investigate and tap into offshore regions for capturing wind energy to generate electricity.
In addition, the project has been granted a Green Lane status by the Philippine Board of Investments (PBOI) under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). This status mandates that concerned government agencies optimize workflows and facilitate the faster issuance of permits and approvals.
The project will be situated in San Miguel Bay. The offshore component will be located in the administrative waters of Sipocot, Cabusao, Calabanga, Tinambac, and Mercedes, while the onshore components will be in Calabanga, Bombon, Magarao, Milaor, Pili, and Naga City, making this a wide-scale regional initiative. The wind farm is expected to generate up to 1,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity, which will support and enhance the country’s power supply through the national grid.
Project Benefits
As energy demand in the Philippines continues to grow, the development of renewable energy sources such as this offshore wind farm is critical to achieving energy security and sustainability. Among the anticipated benefits are the improvement of energy security through the provision of clean and sustainable energy, climate change mitigation, job creation and economic growth, government-mandated benefits, as well as community benefits.
Under existing policies, the project will allocate ₱0.01 per kilowatt-hour of electricity sales to host local government units. Furthermore, 1% of the project’s gross income will be divided between national and local governments. In terms of community development, the project will also fund initiatives tailored to the specific needs of affected communities.
A Project with Promise and Responsibility
While the project is still in its early stages, it already shows great promise—not only for the host LGUs but also for the country. However, there are still valid concerns regarding the potential environmental impacts of offshore operations, the economic implications of a 100-percent foreign-owned developer—departing from the traditional 60-40 foreign-Filipino ownership rule—and the social impact on communities living along the shores of San Miguel Bay.
Stakeholders and community members must stay engaged, take part in consultations, and closely monitor the development of this project to ensure that it benefits both the environment and the people it intends to serve.
