March 18, 2019 | 12:07 am
DMCI Power Corp. continues to be on
the lookout for more power contracts in several islands in the country to
improve its sales volume, after it grew by a fourth to 308 gigawatt hours (GWh)
in 2018.
The off-grid electricity supplier
said it has recently won the contract for a three-megawatt (MW) facility in
Siargao, while also looking to participate in the bidding process for projects
in Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, and Ticao Island in Masbate this year. DMCI
Power President Nestor D. Dadivas said they won the Siargao project at P83
million per year, on top of variable costs. The company is now in the review
process for the power supply agreement.
“Siargao is connected to the grid,
so it’s an easy contract that can grow because we have big plans in Mindanao,
we might need some ancillary facilities,” Mr. Dadivas told reporters during a
recent media briefing.
The build-operate-transfer contract
will last for 15 years, after which the facility will be turned over to the
government. DMCI Power expects the facility to start running within the next
four to six months.
Meanwhile, Mr. Dadivas said the
local governments of Marinduque and Occidental Mindoro might be sending out bids
for private electricity providers within the year. The Marinduque contract is
seen to have a capacity of 12 MW to 15 MW, while the Occidental Mindoro project
will have a total capacity of 22 MW.
“Right now they (Occidental Mindoro)
have temporary contracts for 20 MW, that will be bid out. Wala pang
existing supplier. They will still have to come up with their terms, so it
depends on the technology, size,” Mr. Dadivas explained.
Electricity in Ticao Island, which
Mr. Dadivas described as a tourism-oriented island, is currently being supplied
by the National Power Corp. DMCI Power said the state-run firm is now asking
for interested private providers in the area.
DMCI Power said it posted record
sales volume in 2018 to 308 GWh, 25% higher than the 247 GWh it booked the year
before. The company attributed the performance to strong power demand alongside
improved distribution and transmission line systems during the period.
Mr. Dadivas also noted that the
six-month closure of Boracay positively affected Palawan and Oriental Mindoro —
where it provides electricity.
Palawan energy sales grew 34% to 131
GWh, while sales in Masbate went up 111 GWh, 12% higher year on year. Energy
sales in Oriental Mindoro also increased 32% to 66 GWh.
On the other hand, sales volume in
Sultan Kudarat rose 21% to 170 megawatt hours from 140 MWh in 2017. DMCI Power
acts as a backup or reserve power provider in the area.
DMCI Power’s net income climbed 30%
to P465 million in 2018 from the P359 million it realized the year before. — Arra
B. Francia
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