URDANETA CITY, Pangasinan — A proposed 12-megawatt waste-to-energy power plant worth up to ₱3.2 billion is scheduled for public environmental scoping in Urdaneta City, with its potential effects on nearby communities and the environment among the issues to be examined.
The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Region I listed the public-scoping activity for October 29, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. at the third-floor function hall of Magic Mall in Urdaneta City. The proposed project, led by North Maharlika Energy Corporation (NMEC), is located in Barangay Nancayasan, according to the agency’s notice.
According to Daily Tribune’s report published October 27, the project has an estimated investment of ₱2.5 billion to ₱3.2 billion. The proposed facility is designed to process at least 650 metric tons of municipal solid waste and refuse-derived fuel daily and generate electricity for the Luzon grid.
The project description identifies thermal combustion as the proposed technology for converting waste into electricity. Commercial operations are targeted for 2030, subject to environmental assessment and the necessary government approvals.
Environmental safeguards in focus
Project reporting identifies potential environmental concerns, including air emissions, groundwater use, ash disposal, noise, and increased truck traffic. These are matters for assessment; their identification does not establish that environmental damage has occurred.
The environmental impact assessment process provides an opportunity to identify potential effects, determine the scope of the necessary technical studies and document concerns raised by affected communities and other stakeholders.
Public scoping is an early stage of this process. It is not, by itself, an approval or rejection of a proposed project. The Environmental Management Bureau has explained this distinction in its reporting on other waste-to-energy proposals. Read the explanation published by SunStar.
For Urdaneta residents and neighboring communities, emissions monitoring, ash management, water use, and truck movements are key considerations as the project undergoes environmental assessment.
Plant still needs government approvals
In its October 28 report, BusinessMirror said NMEC was pursuing the necessary permits and government approvals for the proposed facility.
The plant should therefore be regarded as a proposed development, not an approved or operating power facility. Its proposed timeline, including the target commercial operation in 2030, remains subject to regulatory requirements and project development.
For Pangasinan residents, the central question is whether the proposed facility can contribute to waste management and electricity generation while adequately addressing environmental and community concerns.
The findings of the environmental assessment and the decisions of the relevant authorities will help determine whether, and under what conditions, the project may proceed.
