Written by Madelaine B. Miraflor Published on 08 May 2013
Renewable energy firm Sunwest Water and Electric Co. Inc. (Suweco) pledged to start the development of four mini-hydropower plants in Romblon immediately in order to provide sufficient power supply in the province.
“Suweco will immediately start the development of the four mini-hydropower plants on the island,” Suweco President Jose Silvestre Natividad said.
According to him, it is part of the company’s plan to develop the hydro potentials in Romblon and other small power utilities group (SPUG) areas to lower their power cost and for the government to minimize subsidies to these areas.
Natividad further said that, while these four hydropower plants are being developed, a bunker-fired power plant shall be constructed to supply power to the island.
On Wednesday, Suweco signed a 15-year power-supply agreement with Tablas Island Electric Cooperative Inc. (Tielco) for the supply of power for Tablas Island, Romblon. This is after the firm won the bid for the said agreement two months ago.
The company earlier said that, it will spend P800 million for the Tablas power facilities.
“With the signed power-supply agreement, Suweco shall take over the power supply obligation on Tablas Island after one year,” said Orville Ferranco, Tielco general manager.
The scope of the power supply includes the entire capacity requirement of the electric cooperative including its reserve capacity for the initial years of the agreement and fixed capacity thereafter with the right to priority dispatch.
Ferranco added that the total quantity to be contracted is estimated at 7.5-megawatt excluding spinning and cold reserves.
Earlier, Tielco Procurement Bids and Award Committee (PBAC) chairman officially announced and confirmed that Suweco was declared as the lowest and responsive bidder in the recently concluded competitive selection process for private-sector participation in power generation on Tablas Island, Romblon.
Currently, Suweco has two operational mini-hydro power plants with a total installed capacity of 3.6 megawatt on the island of Catanduanes, and is nearing completion of additional capacities of 8 megawatt in Bugasong, Antique and 0.6 megawatt in Sorsogon.
It has pipeline projects with total capacity of about 270 megawide nationwide out of which 19 contracts have already been approved by the Department of Energy. source
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