MRC Allied eyes solar panels in Xentro Malls

MRC Allied Inc. is in talks with XRC Mall Developer Inc. to put up solar rooftop panels in its community malls.

In a discloure to the Philippine Stock Exchange yesterday, MRC said its board gave the gosignal to pursue discussions and negotiations with XRC Mall Developer to explore, develop and install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for rooftops in various malls.

XRC is a corporation engaged in the establishment and operation of Xentro Malls, community malls in cities and municipalities featuring tenants in the retail and food industry.

“This partnership with XRC will be another milestone for MRC as it diversifies into the renewable energy business,” MRC president and CEO Gladys Nalda said.

“This will be a significant step toward our foray into the solar PV rooftop industry,” she said.

If talks push through, Nalda said this would also help the company achieve its goal of building a renewable energy portfolio of 1,000 megawatts (MW) in five years.

Based on its website, XRC has around 20 existing Xentro Malls in Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, Bicol and Southern Tagalog.

Meanwhile, the mall developer is planning to put up more community malls in Balagtas, Bulacan; Ilagan, Roxas, Cabagan, Tumauini and Santiago City in Isabela; Antipolo City, Tanay, Morong, Angono and Binangonan in Rizal; San Pablo City, Laguna; Tuguegarao City, Cagayan; Sto. Tomas, Bauan and Lemery in Batangas; General Trias and Silang in Cavite; Palawan and Calapan in Oriental Mindoro.

XRC is also eyeing to expand in the Mindanao region with its first branch in Zamboanga City.

Previously, MRC Allied has executed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Uni Solar Inc. to look into the development of solar PV rooftop projects.

Based in Quezon City, Uni Solar is engaged in the business of design, global sourcing, local distribution, manufacturing, and sales of quality and environmentfriendly solar power products especially in solar PV for rooftops.

MRC Allied has also signed MOUs with local firm Merge Energy and Environment Corp. (MEEC) and China Energy Engineering Group Guangdong Power Engineering Co. Ltd. (GPEC) to develop renewable energy projects.