AboitizPower subsidiary builds PHL’s first coal dome

Business Mirror

07 Oct 2013 

 

Written by Bong D. Fabe

DAVAO CITY—In fulfillment to its commitment to protect the environment from the adverse impacts of its coal-fired power plant, AboitizPower subsidiary Therma South Inc. (TSI), is also building a fully enclosed but well-ventilated “coal dome” to secure and contain its coal supply.

The “coal dome” is made of non-combustible materials and is designed to minimize the surface area on which dust can settle. Sensors will also be installed inside the dome to monitor the temperature of the coal as well as detect the location of hotspots inside to prevent spontaneous combustion, an AboitizPower official told the BusinessMirror.

The AboitizPower official explained that this is not only necessary but is also an essential feature of a “clean coal” technology.

“This is the first of its kind in the Philippines. This is part of our fulfillment of the environmental conditions the Department of Environment and Natural Resources set in approving the project,” the official said, referring to the 300-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant TSI is currently constructing in a contiguous area straddling Barangay Binugao, Davao City, and Barangay Inawayan, Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur.

Once fully commissioned in 2015, the TSI coal-fired power plant will be the largest baseload coal-fed power plant in Mindanao, a distinction that is presently held by Steag State Power Inc.’s (SPI) 210-MW coal-fired power plant in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental. AboitizPower owns 34 percent of SPI.

Manuel Orig, AboitizPower first vice president for Mindanao affairs, reported that construction of the facilities for the plant is about 50-percent complete, with around 2,000 workers working round-the-clock.

“We are fully committed in delivering our power to our customers on time and help relieve Mindanaoans of the debilitating effects of the Mindanao power crisis,” Orig, who is also TSI first vice president for government and community relations, said in a statement distributed to select Mindanao journalists during a site visit on Saturday.

TSI is on track to deliver its promise to complete the 300-MW coal plant by 2015.

Orig said close to 20 electric cooperatives and distribution utilities across Mindanao already have power contracts with TSI.

“Coal is seen as an ideal complement to hydro power to ensure that Mindanao has reliable baseload power that can run 24/7 no matter the weather condition, while utilizing its hydro resources,” the statement said.

Mindanao sources more than 50 percent of its power demand from “ancient” hydropower plants operated by the National Power Corp. in Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur provinces. Some parts of the island has been suffering from rotating brownouts for more than two years now. Rotating brownouts last from six to eight hours.

If not arrested, the power shortage in Mindanao will hit 484-MW by 2014, enough to cut power in five major cities in Mindanao, Orig earlier warned.

“The power situation in Mindanao is very bad. But it will worsen next year as our power deficiency is expected to reach 484 MW. That deficiency is enough to power five major cities in Mindanao,” he said.   source

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In Photo: Therma South Inc. (TSI), a subsidiary of the AboitizPower Corp., is on track to to completing construction of its 300-megawatt coal plant by 2015. (Bong D. Fabe)