MGen gets bids for coal plant in Quezon province

by Lenie Lectura - March 2, 2016
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/mgen-gets-bids-for-coal-plant-in-quezon-province/

THE power-generation arm of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen), has received bids from four potential engineering procurement construction (EPC) contractors for its 1,200-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant in Quezon province.

Arron Domingo, EVP and general manager, said the bid proposals are currently under assessment. “Awarding of EPC contract is targeted by the third quarter of 2016,” he said.

The power project, estimated at $2 billion, would be undertaken by Atimonan One Energy (A1E).

Construction is expected to commence late this year, starting with site-access road and resettlement-site construction in the fourth quarter of the year.

“Target completion of unit 1 is early 2021,” Domingo said.

The proposed 2×600-MW Supercritical coal-fired power plant in Atimonan, Quezon, is in response to these foreseen requirements and will help address the power-supply problems while pushing for optimal-energy rates in the future and avoiding price spikes.

The project will be located in an area about 130 hectares in Barangay Villa Ibaba, about 114 aerial kilometers southeast of Quezon City and about 30 aerial kilometers east-northeast of Lucena City.

A1E has already secured the necessary permits from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples. Likewise, a certificate of land-use conversion for the resettlement site was received last month.

Meralco Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan earlier said this capital-extensive project would require a partnership with a foreign firm to spread any possible risk.

Most likely foreign firms. Japanese, Korean. Probably not Chinese,” Pangilinan said.



MGen’s other power projects include the 455-MW plant of San Buenaventura Power Ltd. in Quezon province and the 600-MW facility by Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc. in Subic.