Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. will push through with the rebidding of four power barges in August, ahead of the September target, on the condition that they will be moved to Mindanao.
PSALM president Emmanuel Ledesma told reporters bidders can raise issues during the pre-bid conference, including their concern on the transfer of the barges to Mindanao.
“The bidders concerns will be communicated by the bidders during the bid process. Part of the bid process is the submission of bidders’ comments on the transaction documents. We’ll evaluate the bidders’ comments accordingly,” Ledesma said.
PSALM has issued its invitation to bid for the four power barges owned by National Power Corp.
The barges are to be auctioned in three packages, with the first consisting of the 32-megawatt PB 101 and 32-MW PB 102, both moored in Barangay Obrero, Iloilo City.
The second package involves the 32-MW PB 104 in Estancia, Iloilo while the third is found in the Holcim Compound, Ilang in Davao City.
PSALM said the bidders should submit their letters of interest not later than July 3. PSALM will hold a pre-bid conference on July 5 while schedule of the bid submission is on Aug. 15.
Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras earlier said most of the bidders were not pleased with the transfer of the barges to Mindanao as a condition to the sale.
“Apparently, some of the bidders are afraid to go to Mindanao. They rather not get involved in Mindanao…,” the energy official said.
Almendras said the government still wants the barges moved to Mindanao because of the power shortfall in the region.
PSALM declared the bidding for four power barges early in May a failure after only one of the seven qualified bidders submitted an offer for the assets.
Only ACTA Power, a joint venture between Ayala Corp.’s AC Energy Holdings and Phinma’s Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp., submitted the required bidding documents prior to the expiration of the deadline.
PSALM did not disclose the names of the six prequalified bidders. Aboitiz Power Corp., First Gen Corp. and San Miguel Corp. earlier expressed interest to bid for the assets.
Sources said the interested bidders of the power barges expressed concern that Mindanao consumers would not support an increase in generation charges, given the experience with Therma Marine Inc.’ s barges.
Therma Marine, a unit of Aboitiz Power Corp., owns two power barges in Mindanao.
The winning bidder is also required to shoulder the cost of transfer of the barges and repair of the mooring sites on top of operational costs.
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