Sunday, September 21, 2014

4 foreign firms bid to supply generators

Manila Standard Today
By Alena Mae S. Flores | Sep. 21, 2014 at 11:20pm

Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. said over the weekend it is evaluating proposals from at least four foreign companies to supply the generator sets needed to cover the projected shortfall of 300 megawatts during the dry months of 2015.

“PSALM is not yet negotiating. We are at the stage of accepting and evaluating proposals sent to PSALM/DoE in case Congress grants the request [to invoke Section 71 of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act]. These are around four foreign companies,” PSALM president Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. said. He did not identify the interested suppliers.

Ledesma said PSALM must secure 300 MW of gas or diesel generator sets to meet the requirement for the peak period of March to May next year.

“Factors to consider include comparative cost [rental/purchase], delivery time, minimum operations and maintenance contract period required, as well as availability of fuel,” Ledesma said.

“We will be meeting with [Senator] Serge Osmeña. He agreed to it [emergency powers]. When we’re ready with additional info and updates, we will meet with him. We are talking to about four or five suppliers. Time is of the essence,” he said.

The move came after the Energy Department warned of longer power outages next year. Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla said the anticipated power shortage could reach up to 800 MW from the projected 600 MW due to the El Niño weather phenomenom.

Petilla earlier asked PSALM to initiate talks with power generators with available capacity for contracting to prevent power outages.

“PSALM should have offers as we are redirecting these offers to them,” Petilla said. source

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