By the Blocktec Editorial Team
North Maharlika Energy Corp. (NMEC) has filed a project description for environmental scoping of a 12 MW waste-to-energy (WTE) power plant in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan. The project is estimated to cost P2.5 billion to P3.2 billion, and the plant is targeted to start commercial operation by the second quarter of 2030.
What NMEC Is Proposing In Urdaneta
The plant would sit on about 3.69 hectares in Barangays Nancayasan and Santo Domingo, along the Urdaneta Bypass Road, and would feed power into the Luzon grid.
It would burn at least 650 tons a day of municipal solid waste and refuse-derived fuel (RDF) coming from Urdaneta and nearby towns. To put that in everyday terms, 650 tons is roughly the weight of several hundred cars every day, delivered by truck. The facility would use an incineration boiler and a 12 MW steam turbine generator. It would also include waste processing warehouses, fuel storage and pollution control systems.
Cost, Capacity And Jobs
The key figures reported so far:
- Cost: P2.5 billion to P3.2 billion
- Capacity: 12 MW steam turbine generator
- Fuel: at least 650 tons a day of municipal solid waste and RDF
- Site: about 3.69 hectares
- Operating life: 25 years
- Permanent jobs: 80 to 120, with priority for local hires
For construction, Context.ph reported 300 to 500 workers at peak, while the Daily Tribune put the figure at 350 to 500. The two outlets differ slightly, so the safest reading is that the peak workforce will be in the range of a few hundred up to about 500 people.
Timeline And Public Scoping
The Daily Tribune laid out the schedule in stages:
- Permitting and design: through Q1 2027
- Site preparation: Q2 to Q3 2027
- Civil construction: Q4 2027 to Q4 2028
- Equipment installation: 2029
- Commissioning: through Q1 2030
- Commercial operation: target of Q2 2030
Context.ph reported that the DENR Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) will hold a public scoping meeting on October 29, 2026. Scoping is the step where the issues an environmental study must cover are set, with input from the public. Topics to be studied include air emissions, groundwater use, ash disposal, noise and truck traffic. The company proposes emissions monitoring and traffic management as part of its response.
The project still needs further assessments and permits before any construction can begin.
Where The DOE Auction Fits In
NMEC is one of 11 firms qualified for the Department of Energy's special green energy auction for waste-to-energy. The auction seeks 400 MW for delivery between September 2028 and March 2029. For comparison, on-grid WTE capacity was only 7 MW as of June 2026, so the auction target is far larger than what is currently connected.
A 12 MW plant would be a small slice of that 400 MW goal. Whether NMEC's project proceeds on the schedule above will depend on the permits and on how it fares in the auction process.
What It Means For Builders In North Luzon
The reported schedule gives suppliers and contractors a clear window to plan around: civil works from Q4 2027 to Q4 2028. Projects like this usually come with support buildings such as control rooms, warehouses and admin offices, where fire safety, schedule and budget all matter. Nothing in the reports says how these buildings will be built or who will supply materials, so treat this as an early heads-up and not a confirmed tender.
If you are a contractor, estimator or developer eyeing work near Urdaneta, here is how we would approach it:
- Track the permitting. Site preparation is not expected until Q2 2027, so there is time to prepare.
- Spec walls early. Buildings that house equipment or store fuel and waste products benefit from non-combustible walls. Blocktec's AAC blocks carry a 4-hour fire resistance rating and comply with PNS ASTM C1691:2019 and ASTM C1693.
- Plan for speed. A trained mason with a helper lays about 10 to 12 m2 per 8-hour shift, and up to 20 m2 on straight runs. Because AAC goes up with thin-bed adhesive and skimcoat, it is walang palitada, which cuts a whole wet-trade step from a tight 12-month civil works window.
- Compare costs on your own numbers. In Blocktec's cost comparison, the wall system showed savings of up to about 21% versus hollow blocks, depending on the project.
Our Cabuyao, Laguna hub and our other supply points in Marikina and Subic serve North Luzon projects. If a project of this kind lands on your desk, send us the wall areas early so the numbers are ready when the schedule firms up.
Sources
- Context.ph: Public feedback set for P3.2-billion Pangasinan project (Oct 27, 2026)
- Daily Tribune: P3.2B waste-to-energy plant planned in Pangasinan (Oct 27, 2026)
Planning support buildings for a plant or industrial project in North Luzon? Send your wall area or blueprints to sales@blocktec.ph or blocktec.ph for a free AAC wall-system estimate.