Coal plant is 88% complete

Sunstar Davao
By Reuel John F. Lumawag
Tuesday, August 5, 2014

THE 300-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant project of Therma South Inc. (TSI), a subsidiary of the AboitizPower Corp., located at the boundary of Binugao in Toril, Davao City and Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, is already 88 percent complete as of June 2014, the company said.

"We are looking forward to our testing and commissioning phase this year," TSI president and COO Benjamin A. Cariaso Jr. said in an e-mailed statement.

With more than 3,500 workers on site, the construction of the plant is still on track for its scheduled commercial operations by first half of 2015.

"With the completion of our project, we will be able to supply reliable baseload power to most of Mindanao and alleviate the effects of the power shortage in the island," Cariaso added.

TSI, being a baseload plant, will be able to operate almost 24/7 and is not dependent on weather conditions. The plant will also be "vital in complementing Mindanao's power supply which is heavily dependent on hydropower."

During summer months and extreme dry weather, Mindanao's power supply is extremely hampered due to low water levels that are supplying the hydropower plants. Hydropower plants in the island supply over half of the island's power supply.

Some 20 electric cooperatives and distribution utilities throughtout Mindanao have contracts with TSI. To name a few are: Surigao del Sur Electric Cooperative II (Surseco II), Misamis Occidental 1 Electric Cooperative (Moelci 1), Cotabato Electric Cooperative (Cotelco) and Sultan Kudarat Electric Cooperative (Sukelco), Davao Light & Power Company (DLPC), and Cotabato Light & Power Company (CLPC)
With the completion of the plant, key cities like Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Butuan, Tagum, Kidapawan, General Santos, and Cotabato will be able to receive the much needed power suppl.

Already anticipating the further expansion of Mindanao's population and economy, TSI has already received the support of Davao City and neighboring Sta. Cruz, Davao City to expand its plant capacity from 300 to 645 MW. source

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on August 06, 2014.