P12-B coal power plant eyed

Manila Bulletin
By ELLALYN B. DE VERA
October 1, 2011, 4:36pm


MANILA, Philippines — A local energy corporation has proposed the construction of a P12-billion coal-fired power plant in Zamboanga City to prevent massive power outages in Mindanao by 2014.


The proposal of the San Ramon Power Corporation, a subsidiary of the Alcantara Group, to build a 100-megawatt coal-fired power plant in San Ramon in the eastern part of Zamboanga City was revealed during the initial series of consultation led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) in Zamboanga.


DENR-EMB kicked off last Friday the series of consultation meetings with local residents in Mindanao on new power projects to prevent massive power outages in the southern part of the country.


"Based on our studies, we can conclude that the operation of the San Ramon Plant will have no adverse effects on the water, soil and air quality of the area surrounding the plant," Berkman Systems Engr. Jethro Alden Hipe said in a statement.


San Ramon Power spokesperson Lewilin Lisondra expressed confidence that the Alcantara Group is confident it would be allowed to proceed with the project since its planned power plant even exceeded the environmental and safety standards set by the government in the Clean Air Act.


Likewise, Alcantara Group vice-president for business development Joseph Nocos said the company is committed to comply with Philippine environmental regulations and World Bank guidelines.


San Ramon aims to initially provide the Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ZAMCELCO) with an exclusive supply of electrical power.


ZAMCELCO is the electrical power supplier of Zamboanga City and some peripheral areas serving a population of close to a million people.


The plant is being built in anticipation of a power supply shortage in Mindanao by 2014 due to the lack of power generating facilities to supply the growing power demands of the island’s expanding population.


Currently, the company has a stake in two diesel-fired power plants under a build-operate-and-own (BOO) arrangement with the National Power Corporation


The plants are located in Zamboanga City and Sarangani.


Aside from power generation and power plant management, the Group is engaged in aquaculture and agribusiness, real property development, and services.