Friday, January 29, 2016

Ayala looking for power acquisition opportunities



by Myrna Velasco January 28, 2016

The energy unit of the Ayala group is still keeping its eye on acquisition opportunities in the power sector – presumably equity take in existing developments.
John Eric T. Francia, president of AC Energy Holdings, Inc. and head of the Infrastructure Group of Ayala Corporation, has indicated “we’re looking out for acquisition along the way on opportunistic basis.”
He added “it’s not really part of our assumption but that’s another possibility over the next five years.”
Francia was making reference to the 1,000 megawatts portfolio target that they have penciled in – and set for realization at the completion of their 660-megawatt Diningin coal-fired expansion project in Mariveles, Bataan.
The Ayala executive further noted “it’s not only about greenfield, but if there are opportunities to consolidate then we’ll take a look at that.”
It has to be recalled that Ayala’s investment foray into the power sector generally leaned initially on “equity acquisition” at existing projects.
The company had its hand first on the 33-MW Northwind power facility in Bangui, Ilocos Norte; then what came next had been its partnership with GNPower in the initial 600MW Mariveles coal-fired facility in Bataan.
Since then, the wind farm in Ilocos Norte had been expanded by 18MW; while the Mariveles plant is gearing up also for capacity boost.
On greenfield development, the Ayala group’s major credit to-date was the completed 81MW Caparispisan wind farm, also in Ilocos Norte.
For coal technology, its other venture – apart from the Diningin plant – is the 540MW Kauswagan coal-fired power facility for Mindanao grid

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