CENTURY Pacific Food Inc. (CNPF) is boosting its investment in renewable energy (RE) with the expansion of a solar power facility at its largest manufacturing hub in the country.

CNPF, the maker of Century Tuna, Coco Mama, and Argentina products, said that it had increased the capacity of its General Santos City solar power plant by 65 percent to 8.6 megawatts (MW) from 5.2 MW previously.

The enhanced facility is scheduled to be fully operational by March this year.

"In addition to being an environmentally forward choice for CNPF, investing in solar unlocks value for the company and enhances our operational resilience," Ted Po, the company's president and chief executive officer, said in a statement on Tuesday.

In 2021, CNPF commissioned its first solar photovoltaic (PV) plant with the goal of strengthening its commitment to more sustainable manufacturing practices.

Since then, it has invested about P380 million to develop and expand the solar plant, which features a PV roof solar system operating on-grid.

CNPF said its tuna and coconut facilities mainly utilize clean energy from a hydroelectric power plant and that renewable energy sources were providing more than 60 percent of power needs as of 2022.

"Since its commissioning, the PV roof solar system in General Santos has generated more than 15 million kWh (kilowatt-hours) of pure energy, significantly contributing to the group's carbon emission reduction and environmental sustainability goals," it noted.

CNPF said it had also commissioned new biomass boilers, which use coconut shells as fuel, to further reduce coal usage in factory operations.

"As demand for coconut products soars locally and abroad, our focus is on sustainable practices to mitigate our environmental impact," said Noel Tempongko, vice president for CNPF's coconut division.

"The expansion of our biomass boilers, utilizing coconut shells from our operations, also serves as an eco-friendly substitute for coal, contributing to substantial reductions in carbon emissions," he added.

Coconut shells are a by-product of CNPF's deshelling operations for coconut meat and various coconut derivatives, such as desiccated coconut, cocomilk, oil and flour.

The new biomass boilers are expected to cut coal consumption by about 36 percent. Another mixed biomass boiler will be commissioned by the second quarter of this year, the company said.

On Tuesday, CNPF shares were down by 55 centavos, or 1.58 percent, at P34.25 each while the Philippine Stock Exchange index closed up by 0.58 percent.