Trans-Asia eyes 300-MW dam

By Alena Mae S. Flores | Mar. 10, 2014 at 12:01am 

Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp., a unit of the Phinma Group, has ventured into hydropower development and plans to build a 300-megawatt pumped storage facility in Pililla, Rizal.
Trans-Asia has a pending application with the Energy Department for the 300-MW pumped storage hydro project, which can store water for use especially during peak hours. 
A pumped-storage hydroelectric plant has two reservoirs, with the upper dam holding water that is released into a lower reservoir through a turbine to generate electricity during a period of high power demand. 
ater is pumped back into the upper reservoir during off-peak hours, using cheaper electricity. Trans-Asia also asked the Energy Department to approve its plan to develop a 10-MW hydropower project in Ilagan, Isabela. 
The department has yet to issue the hydro service contracts for the two projects. Once approved, the two projects will expand Trans-Asia’s power generation portfolio to include hydropower plants, on top of existing and future investments in wind power, geothermal energy, coal power, liquefied natural gas as well as in oil and gas exploration. 
Trans-Asia plans to put up a 415-MW combined cycle power plant at Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Co.’s Tabangao refinery in San Isidro and Tabangao-Ambulong in Batangas City. 
Shell will develop a liquefied natural gas import terminal to provide fuel for Trans-Asia’s 415-MW combined cycle power plant. Trans-Asia is also in the advanced stage of construction of the 54-MW wind power project in San Lorenzo, Guimaras. 
rans-Asia earlier said it planned to build wind energy projects with combined capacity of 350 MW, which would make it one of the largest wind developers in the country. 
Trans-Asia and Ayala Corp.’s wholly-owned subsidiary AC Energy Holdings Inc. (formerly Michigan Power Inc.) also pursues the construction and operation of an initial 135-MW coal plant in Calaca, Batangas. 
The company owns a 25-percent stake in the Maibarara Geothermal Inc.’s 20-MW geothermal project in Sto. Tomas, Batangas. It is also engaged in oil and gas exploration and development and retail electricity supply. 
The company holds minority investments in various consortia engaged in petroleum exploration, development and production. source