The 600-kilowatt (kW) solar project in Tawi-Tawi is set to operate by November this year, the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) said Wednesday.

MinDA Chairperson Maria Belen Sunga-Acosta said the solar power project in the municipality of Sibuto, Tawi-Tawi, aims to strengthen the economic activity, especially in the seaweed farming communities of the area.

“This will help the seaweed farmers as they can now sell semi-processed seaweed products instead of raw materials which have a lower value. With the help of the facility, the farmers can produce quality products which can be exported to the European countries and our neighboring Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations),” Acosta said in a statement.

Acosta hopes the project would lead to the establishment of more processing facilities as it will reduce the expenses of the farmers and improve their income.

“Hopefully by July, it can be tested as we expect it will be fully operational by November this year,” she said, adding that the project has securing funding from the European Union Access to Sustainable Energy.

In coordination with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and partner agencies, the project is seen to drastically improve the electric supply in the island province.

Once completed, MinDA said the project can generate 600kW of renewable energy.

The establishment of the hybrid solar and diesel technology by MinDA, in collaboration with United Nations Industrial Development Authority, also aims to increase the facility’s number of hours of available power. (PNA)