New plant to energize Visayas

Manila Bulletin

By GENALYN D. KABILING

June 27, 2011, 6:50pm

NAGA CITY, Cebu, Philippines – Cebu and the rest of the Visayas can enjoy reliable, cheaper, and cleaner electricity following the launch of a new P20-billion coal-fired power plant here.

President Benigno S. Aquino III Monday led the inauguration of the 200-megawatt plant, which is operated by the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) SPC Power Corporation.

Built in February, 2008, the facility is equipped with Circulating Fluidized Bed Combustion technology, which greatly reduces sulfur emissions.

In his speech, Aquino thanked KEPCO for its new investment in power generation. The company supplies 11 percent of the country’s generation capacity.

“This power plant we are inaugurating will make certain that the energy needs of our citizens in this part of the country are met,” Aquino said.

“As more people around the world buy Cebu-made furniture, and as more and more of them come to join the Sinulog festivities or to eat the unparalleled Cebu lechon, production capacities for your businesses will have to increase, and the available accommodations for visitors will have to increase as well; and none of this is possible if you do not have enough electricity,” he said.

Aquino recalled the “time when the businesses and the people in this region were not even sure whether they would have electricity the whole day. This crippled the operation of businesses, not to mention the day-to-day lives of the citizens; the frequent downtime in some of the region’s major power plants became stumbling blocks that the economies along the Visayas grid had to keep hurdling. But that time is over.”

He noted that the establishment of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) in the Visayas in December 2010 has helped lower electricity rates in the region. He said WESM-Visayas has paved the way for the commissioning of new power plants since investors now have the opportunity to sell power at reasonable profit.

There are 180 market players in the integrated Luzon and Visayas market. “The selling price in the WESM for both Luzon and Visayas reached a low P3.8 per kilowatt hour in April of this year as opposed to the National Power Corporation regulated price of R4.67 per kilowatt hour. This measure has likewise increased investor interest in the region, and perhaps this is proven even further by this inauguration,” Aquino said.

He said that once the power plants in the Visayas are in full operation, it will be more than enough to meet the peak demand of the region in 2011, and also meets the required reserve margin.

“Now, Visayas can even afford to share excess power generating capacity to Luzon, which speaks volumes, again, of the progress we have made,” the President said.

Aquino said he was proud of his government’s gains in the energy sector, particularly with the launching of the National Renewable Energy program.

He said the program seeks to increase energy production without harming the environment.

Although the project may take years to materialize, Aquino said NREP points the nation “toward a future where we can give electricity to all of our people without having to sacrifice our environment.”

KSPC President Lee-Bok Yull said the power plant would put an end to intermittent brownouts that hold back development in the Visayas. He said the company plans to go into renewable sources of energy in the near future.

In a light moment, the President said the presence of so many beautiful women in Cebu is making him reopening the Malacanang of Sugbu so he could hold office there.

The President cited as examples of Cebuana beauty Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and radio-television personality Grace Lee.

Garcia gave the congratulatory message at the inauguration of the power plant, while the Filipino-Korean Lee was the host for the event.

“Before I start, I have noticed that Governor Gwen has become more beautiful every time I visit Cebu. That’s why it’s not hard for me to accept invitations to visit Cebu,” the President said.

“Even our guest, Ms Grace Lee, is beautiful. I thought she is a Filipina but she is actually Korean. Other Koreans visiting the country are all beautiful,” the bachelor president said.

Aquino then jokingly said: “Kailangan buhayin na ang Malacanang sa Sugbu at baka dito na rin tayo magkatuluyan (I may have to revive Malacanang of Sugbu and probably find love and settle down here).”

During the ceremony the 51-year-old President stole glances at Lee, who speaks Filipino and English apart from her native Korean.

Before leaving the stage, Aquino was introduced to Lee and had a short chat with her. Apparently unaware about Lee’s radio and TV work, Aquino reportedly asked her how long she has been staying in the Philippines and how she was able to speak Filipino fluently.

Lee was flattered by the President’s attention, saying she found the President “pleasant.”

Lee said a KEPCO official introduced her to the President shortly after the launch.

When asked by the President about her stay in the country, Lee said she informed him that she has been living in the country for the last 17 years.

Lee said she has a communications degree from Ateneo de Manila University.