By Richmond Mercurio (The
Philippine Star) | Updated April 4, 2016 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines – DMCI Holdings
Inc. of the Consunji Group is working on a possible partnership with power
utility giant Manila Electric Co. and Marubeni Corp. of Japan for the next
phase of expansion of its Calaca coal-fired power plant in Batangas.
“We’re talking to them, Meralco and
Marubeni, for the 2x350 megawatts (MW) expansion of Calaca. That is not yet
signed so it is still a work in progress,” DMCI Holdings chairman and president
Isidro Consunji said.
Consunji said he hopes to finalize
and sign the agreement with both parties within the year.
He said the structure of the
proposed partnership is likely to be 40-40-20, with DMCI and Meralco getting
the larger shareholdings.
The Calaca power plant initially has
600 MW of generating capacity prior to the 300-MW phase one expansion completed
last year.
The second phase of expansion will
see construction of two single units of 350 MW each.
The power facility utilizes local
coal from the Semirara mines in Antique.
With the power generation emerging
as one of DMCI’s most profitable businesses in recent years, Consunji said the
company intends to continue ramping up its power portfolio to include renewable
energy.
Among the renewable energy sources the
group is currently looking at are hydropower and biomass.
Consunji said the company intends to
build a 10 MW mini-hydropower plant in Cagayan De Oro and another 20-MW in
Sultan Kudarat.
He said a 23-MW biomass facility is
also being planned.
“Financial closing is the issue at
present. The project has to be bankable so we’re now in the process of getting
bank approval,” Consunji said.
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