09 September 2005
opinion: What if this guy holds the key to our energy woes?
AFTER ALL
By Behn Fer. Hortaleza Jr.
EVERYTIME we hear officials and civilians talking about measures to conserve power consumption, generate savings and develop alternative sources of energy, we think about our friend, Jaime P. Imbat , a very unassuming, “small-time” local technology inventor from barangay Cablong, Pozorrubio, this province. For years, Mang Jaime has been contacting the entire gamut of science, energy and technology agencies to get them to at least listen and try his “substitute fuel” invention that, he says, makes use of lime component, a natural resource which, we must agree, is abundant in the Philippines.
He has, bless the guy, even challenged -- and this, all according to him – Mirant Philippines to try his lime-powered invention to lessen the Sual plant’s dependence on imported oil and bituminous coal to run the plant. Mr. Imbat even throws in some rather technical insights on how best, if not better, to control pollution in coal-fired or thermal power plants.
Like all, if not most, inventors though, the man’s problem is Capital. From my own assessment, without yet actually seeing (despite the nearly five years of our acquaintance) how his invention generates the heat and power, Mang Jaime has knowledge and experience in these complicated power generation systems. He rattles off these technical terms like he was just munching on peanuts during his periodic visits to the Star office. He has in fact showed us a prototype of the limestone, wrapped carefully in pieces of newspapers, that he says, when properly treated, produces tremendous amount of heat that is not easily consumed. We noticed he was carefully keeping his “product” away from “unauthorized” eyes.
By his narration of data on the Mirant Plant, the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant and other power-generating stations, we can tell he’s been to these plants and studied (we don’t know how exactly) the process of their energy production, which, he says with a little smirk, could definitely stand improvement on fuel savings.
The Department of Science and Technology in Taguig, Rizal, thru Undersecretary for Research and Development Rogelio A. Panlasigui is only one among the latest top brass he’s communicated with in his desire to help “save” the Philippines from its current economic, energy-related, problems. Mang Jaime gave us a copy of Usec Panlasigui’s August 1, 2005 letter-reply to him (apparently, his earlier letter to the Presidential Action Center based in Malacanang about his invention was endorsed to the DOST) where it was apparent DOST was seeking more information on his alternative fuel invention “to help us in assessing the full capacity of the product.”
Mang Jaime has replied to Usec Panlasigui thru a letter dated August 18, 2005 outlining the characteristics of his alternative fuel product (capacity to produce heat up to 2000 degrees Centigrade -- more than enough to run industries requiring tremendous heat like power plants, steel and blooming mills, cement factories, etc – renewable form, non-conventional, locally produced solid fuel in block form 12” x 16” x 24” which can be resized to suit needs and other tidbits.
He ended with the note that he was willing to discuss finer details and demonstrate it to the DOST.
Surely we hope – and –pray – Mang Jaime gets to see the light of day with the DOST on his invention. Who knows it could be the country’s long-awaited way out of the energy mess!
By Behn Fer. Hortaleza Jr.
EVERYTIME we hear officials and civilians talking about measures to conserve power consumption, generate savings and develop alternative sources of energy, we think about our friend, Jaime P. Imbat , a very unassuming, “small-time” local technology inventor from barangay Cablong, Pozorrubio, this province. For years, Mang Jaime has been contacting the entire gamut of science, energy and technology agencies to get them to at least listen and try his “substitute fuel” invention that, he says, makes use of lime component, a natural resource which, we must agree, is abundant in the Philippines.
He has, bless the guy, even challenged -- and this, all according to him – Mirant Philippines to try his lime-powered invention to lessen the Sual plant’s dependence on imported oil and bituminous coal to run the plant. Mr. Imbat even throws in some rather technical insights on how best, if not better, to control pollution in coal-fired or thermal power plants.
Like all, if not most, inventors though, the man’s problem is Capital. From my own assessment, without yet actually seeing (despite the nearly five years of our acquaintance) how his invention generates the heat and power, Mang Jaime has knowledge and experience in these complicated power generation systems. He rattles off these technical terms like he was just munching on peanuts during his periodic visits to the Star office. He has in fact showed us a prototype of the limestone, wrapped carefully in pieces of newspapers, that he says, when properly treated, produces tremendous amount of heat that is not easily consumed. We noticed he was carefully keeping his “product” away from “unauthorized” eyes.
By his narration of data on the Mirant Plant, the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant and other power-generating stations, we can tell he’s been to these plants and studied (we don’t know how exactly) the process of their energy production, which, he says with a little smirk, could definitely stand improvement on fuel savings.
The Department of Science and Technology in Taguig, Rizal, thru Undersecretary for Research and Development Rogelio A. Panlasigui is only one among the latest top brass he’s communicated with in his desire to help “save” the Philippines from its current economic, energy-related, problems. Mang Jaime gave us a copy of Usec Panlasigui’s August 1, 2005 letter-reply to him (apparently, his earlier letter to the Presidential Action Center based in Malacanang about his invention was endorsed to the DOST) where it was apparent DOST was seeking more information on his alternative fuel invention “to help us in assessing the full capacity of the product.”
Mang Jaime has replied to Usec Panlasigui thru a letter dated August 18, 2005 outlining the characteristics of his alternative fuel product (capacity to produce heat up to 2000 degrees Centigrade -- more than enough to run industries requiring tremendous heat like power plants, steel and blooming mills, cement factories, etc – renewable form, non-conventional, locally produced solid fuel in block form 12” x 16” x 24” which can be resized to suit needs and other tidbits.
He ended with the note that he was willing to discuss finer details and demonstrate it to the DOST.
Surely we hope – and –pray – Mang Jaime gets to see the light of day with the DOST on his invention. Who knows it could be the country’s long-awaited way out of the energy mess!
