DMCI Power Corp. is mulling the expansion of its Calaca coal-fired power plant in Batangas.
Nestor Dadivas, DMCI Power president, said that the company is studying the Luzon grid’s power situation to see if they could expand the 600-megawatt plant. “We are studying the power demand and supply situation in Luzon,” he said.
The company has yet to determine the scale of the plant’s expansion as this would be hinged on the results of the study.
The electricity supply in the Luzon grid has been unreliable since the start of the year because the recurring power plant shutdowns have reduced the available generating capacity in the country’s biggest island group.
This was also compounded by the prolonged dry spell that has driven up the demand for electricity earlier this year.
DMCI Power is a unit of DMCI Holdings Inc., a Consunji-led company that has interests in construction, real estate and coal mining.
The holding firm acquired the Calaca plant in July last year from a state auction for $361.7 million.
But this plant was only capable of churning out 340 megawatts of power after years of being run by the government. This has prompted DMCI Holdings to embark on a rehabilitation program to improve the plant’s deteriorating output by 130 megawatts. Dadivas said the $60-million rehabilitation will be completed by February next year.
Euan Paulo C. Añonuevo
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
DMCI Power to pursue expansion of 600-megawatt Calaca coal facility
By Donnabelle L. Gatdula (The Philippine Star) Updated July 13, 2010 12:00 AM Comments (0)  |
MANILA, Philippines - DMCI Power Corp., the power generation arm of the Consunji family, will pursue plans to expand the capacity of the 600-megawatt (MW) Calaca coal-fired power facility.
DMCI Power president Nestor Dadivas said they are now finalizing the investment program for the expansion of the coal-run power plant.
The DMCI official, however, said the amount they would invest would greatly hinge on the power situation in Luzon.
“We are studying the power demand and supply situation in Luzon,” he said.
On top of the planned expansion program, DMCI Power is also in the midst of rehabilitating the Calaca power plant to increase its capacity by an additional 130 MW.
Earlier, the power firm said it would set aside some $60 million for the rehab program.
Dadivas said the ongoing rehabilitation is expected to be completed by February 2011.
Based on the rehab plan, the company would jack up the capacity of the Calaca power facility to 470 MW from the current 340 MW.
According to Dadivas, the two units of the Calaca power facility are currently running at a combined capacity of only around 350 MW. He also noted that the two units are sometimes not capable of running at the same time.
At present, the Calaca facility consists of two 300-MW generating units and is primarily designed to run as a base-load plant.
It is also designed to utilize local coal from Semirara Mining Corp., a subsidiary of DMCI Holdings.
In July 2009, DMCI Holdings Corp., the parent firm of DMCI Power, won the Calaca plant in a bidding with an offer price of $361.7 million.
DMCI Power’s investment in Calaca is strategic as DMCI Holdings owns 56 percent of Semirara, which has exclusive rights to explore, mine and develop the coal resources on Semirara Island in Caluya, Antique.
Aside from mining DMCI Holdings is also into the construction business, running the construction component companies, and related interests of the Consunji family. Its core businesses include construction, real estate and coal mining.
DMCI Power president Nestor Dadivas said they are now finalizing the investment program for the expansion of the coal-run power plant.
The DMCI official, however, said the amount they would invest would greatly hinge on the power situation in Luzon.
“We are studying the power demand and supply situation in Luzon,” he said.
On top of the planned expansion program, DMCI Power is also in the midst of rehabilitating the Calaca power plant to increase its capacity by an additional 130 MW.
Earlier, the power firm said it would set aside some $60 million for the rehab program.
Dadivas said the ongoing rehabilitation is expected to be completed by February 2011.
Based on the rehab plan, the company would jack up the capacity of the Calaca power facility to 470 MW from the current 340 MW.
According to Dadivas, the two units of the Calaca power facility are currently running at a combined capacity of only around 350 MW. He also noted that the two units are sometimes not capable of running at the same time.
At present, the Calaca facility consists of two 300-MW generating units and is primarily designed to run as a base-load plant.
It is also designed to utilize local coal from Semirara Mining Corp., a subsidiary of DMCI Holdings.
In July 2009, DMCI Holdings Corp., the parent firm of DMCI Power, won the Calaca plant in a bidding with an offer price of $361.7 million.
DMCI Power’s investment in Calaca is strategic as DMCI Holdings owns 56 percent of Semirara, which has exclusive rights to explore, mine and develop the coal resources on Semirara Island in Caluya, Antique.
Aside from mining DMCI Holdings is also into the construction business, running the construction component companies, and related interests of the Consunji family. Its core businesses include construction, real estate and coal mining.
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