(Pictured, Left to Right) 1. By-products of CNPF’s coconut operations being used as renewable energy fuel. 2. Newly commissioned biomass boiler at CNPF’s coconut facility. 3. Solar PV panels on the rooftop of CNPF’s manufacturing hub in General Santos City
Century Pacific Food, Inc. (PSE: CNPF), one of the leading branded food and beverage companies in the Philippines, further invests in renewable energy initiatives with the expansion of its Solar PV capacity and the commissioning of new biomass boilers.
CLEANER ENERGY WITH SOLAR POWER INTEGRATION
The Company is expanding its solar power facility in General Santos City, its largest manufacturing hub in the country where it produces tuna and coconut products.
From a capacity of 5.2Mw, the operational solar capacity now stands at 8.6MW, representing a 65% increase, and is expected to be fully operational by March 2024.
CNPF’s tuna and coconut facilities predominantly uses clean energy sourced from a hydroelectric power plant through the grid. In 2021, the Company commissioned its first solar PV plant in a move to double down on its commitment to more sustainable manufacturing practices. As at end 2022, more than 60% of the hub’s power requirements were harnessed from clean energy sources.
Ted Po, CNPF’s President and CEO, said, “In addition to being an environmentally forward choice for CNPF, investing in solar unlocks value for the company and enhances our operational resilience.”
Since 2021, the Company has invested approximately Php 380 million to build and expand its Solar Plant, which now features a PV Roof Solar system operating on-grid.
REDUCING EMISSIONS WITH BIOMASS BOILERS
In addition to solar power, CNPF is also investing in greener energy alternatives for its coconut operations with the commissioning of new biomass boilers. The new boiler will utilize coconut shells as biomass fuel, converting by-products into energy and eliminating coal usage in the process. On a broader scale, the company anticipates a substantial 36% reduction in overall coal consumption across its factory.
Noel Tempongko, VP for Coconut OEM says, “As demand for coconut products soar locally and abroad, our focus is on sustainable practices to mitigate our environmental impact. The expansion of our biomass boilers, utilizing coconut shells from our operations also serves as an eco-friendly substitute for coal, contributing to substantial reductions in carbon emissions.”
Currently, Century Pacific’s operations yield coconut shells as by-products of the company’s deshelling operations for Coconut Meat and various coconut derivatives such as desiccated coconut, cocomilk, oil, and flour.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND FUTURE PLANS:
Century Pacific’s solar power and biomass boiler projects are part of the bigger sustainability plan of CNPF to contribute to the overall carbon footprint reduction and energy efficiency initiatives of the country.
Since its commissioning, the PV Roof Solar System in General Santos has generated more than 15 million kWh of pure energy, significantly contributing to the group’s carbon emission reduction and environmental sustainability goals.
Following the addition of this new boiler, CNPF will be adding another mixed biomass boiler in the second quarter.
CNPF has been affirming its stance on sustainability through various initiatives and programs across all its major operations.
In 2022, through a partnership with GCash and HOPE, CNPF completed the planting of 1 million coconut trees in Mindanao. Apart from enabling carbon sequestration from the atmosphere, these trees were donated to smallholder coconut farmers in the region, helping improve their farms’ productivity and boost their income. Additionally, as of yearend 2023, the company has expanded its environmental efforts by planting 150,000 mangroves, cultivating a mangrove forest in General Santos for ecological conservation.
“Our company’s pursuit of growth runs alongside our desire for longevity. This necessitates a commitment to responsible business practices and creating long-lasting, positive impact on both our bottom line and the planet. Win-win initiatives such as these capture our direction and future,” adds Po.
