A new solar power project in Bukidnon has moved closer to development after the Department of Energy (DOE) granted A Brown Company Inc.'s renewable energy unit the authority to begin pre-development activities.

In a disclosure on Monday, A Brown, the listed holding company of businessman Walter Brown, said its indirect wholly owned subsidiary, Manolo Fortich Power Corp. (MFPC), received a Certificate of Authority (COA) from the DOE last week. The certificate took effect on 25 June.

“The COA shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance, during which MFPC will conduct the necessary pre-development activities required to transition the project into a formal Solar Energy Operating Contract with the DOE,” the company said. 

The proposed Manolo Fortich Solar Power Project will cover about 202.38 hectares in the municipality of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.

MFPC is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of A Brown through ABC Energy Inc. (ABCEI), the listed firm's renewable energy arm.

The company said the project forms part of A Brown's broader renewable energy development strategy through ABCEI as it expands its presence in the country's clean energy sector.

Under the Philippine Energy Plan, the country targets a 35 percent share of renewable energy by 2030 and 50 percent by 2050, but remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels to meet near-term demand.