The Philippines, through the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), secured a Php4-billion (US$70-million) waste-to-energy (WTE) investment with Indian engineering firm Uttamenergy Limited, marking one of the major infrastructure agreements from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s state visit to India.
The deal will pave the way for the Philippines’ most advanced WTE facility in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac. The facility will process 600 metric tons of municipal solid waste daily and generate 12 megawatts (MW) of electricity, enough to power over 10,000 homes.
Construction of the facility will begin on a four-hectare site, with a provision to expand by additional six hectares. The expansion could bring in several billion pesos more in follow-on investment and significantly increase processing capacity and energy output.
“This investment delivers direct national value and reinforces our transition to clean energy, supports modern waste management for cities, and brings high-impact foreign capital into one of the Philippines’ most strategic growth areas,” said BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Engr. Joshua M. Bingcang.
This project is expected to generate approximately 300 jobs during the construction phase and over 100 full-time positions during operations. Local labor and supply chains will be prioritized, supporting livelihoods across Tarlac and nearby provinces. The facility will also catalyze downstream industries in waste recovery, transport, and energy services.
“Projects like this are not just about infrastructure. They create ecosystems of opportunity, like jobs for skilled workers, contracts for small businesses, and long-term value for local governments managing waste sustainably,” Engr. Bingcang added.
The WTE consortium includes Global Heavy Equipment and Construction Corporation and ATD Waste-to-Energy Corporation from the Philippines, alongside India’s Uttamenergy, a regional leader with WTE and biomass facilities across Asia and Africa. The plant will utilize German-engineered Enviropower technology from MARTIN GmbH for high-efficiency, low-emission waste combustion.
The agreement is aligned with the Marcos Jr. administration’s energy and environmental priorities, including the Philippine Energy Plan and the Extended Producer Responsibility Act, which mandates more efficient solid waste processing by local governments and producers.
Located within New Clark City—a 9,450-hectare flagship development positioned as the Philippines’ first smart and resilient metropolis—the facility will serve as a scalable model for clean industrial infrastructure.
This investment is part of the BCDA’s commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
