Thursday, February 10, 2011

SMC to expand Limay power plant capacity


Manila Times.net
San Miguel Corp. (SMC) is keen on expanding the Limay combined cycle power plant in Bataan.
Ramon Ang, SMC president, said the company could spend up to $1 billion to convert the diesel-fed generating facility into liquefied natural gas (LNG) use and increase its 620-megawatt capacity to 1,200 megawatts.
He said the company is “bullish” about adding capacity given the improving economy.
SMC is studying the viability of the expansion, and will come up with a decision on within the year.
The food-and-beverage conglomerate acquired the Limay plant in a state auction in 2009 for $13.5 million.
It had planned to convert the facility into a compressed natural gas-fed plant or scrap it altogether so they can put up a coal-fired power plant in its place.
The conversion however was put off as brownouts in the Luzon grid last year forced the operation of the Limay plant to augment supply.
SMC shares closed higher Wednesday at P184.9 apiece from P184.8 the day before.EUAN PAULO C. AÑONUEVO
Short URL: http://www.manilatimes.net/?p=1610

No comments:

Post a Comment