MGen, Semirara to manage 750-MW coal plant in Batangas

Business Mirror
by Lenie Lectura - April 28, 2016

SEMIRARA Mining and Power Corp., the coal-mining arm of Consunji-led DMCI, and Meralco Powergen Corp. (MGen), the power generation arm of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), will jointly undertake a 750-megawatt (MW) coal-power project in Batangas.

The companies signed a joint-venture agreement (JVA) for the purpose of owning, constructing and operating a 2×350-MW coal-fired power plant to be located in Calaca, Batangas.

The project proponent will be called Saint Raphael Power Generation Corp.

An Environmental Compliance Certificate ECC-CO-1530-0012 dated September 17, 2015, has been issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the project.

Meralco is already sourcing part of its power requirements with Semirara’s wholly owned subsidiary, Southwest Luzon Power Generation Corp. (SLPGC).
They signed in August last year a power-supply agreement in which Meralco will source a total of 120MW of power from SLPGC. The PSA takes effect from March 26, 2016 to December 25, 2018.

Last week Meralco President Oscar Reyes said MGen would still continue to invest on new power projects, including coal-fired power plants, to meet its 3,000-MW target portfolio.

This despite calls by environmentalist groups to put a stop on coal-power plant production.

The Meralco official said the company is “sensitive” to such calls “that’s why we are working on” other power projects, such as “gas, wind, solar and hydro.”

“Some [existing coal-plant facilities] need replacement. There may be additional new coal projects, depending on how our discussions are going. But we have to see since we want to also have visibility on the gas side,” Reyes said.

MGen has already partnered with local and foreign power firms for three power projects already progressing well.

San Buenaventura Power Ltd. Co., a joint venture of MGen and New Growth BV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Electricity Generating Public Co. Ltd. of Thailand, is putting up a 455-MW coal power plant in Mauban, Quezon.

The project is targeted for completion in early 2019, 42 months from the issuance of the Notice to Proceed.

Another coal project, a 600-MW power plant in Subic, is being undertaken by Redondo Peninsula Energy, a joint venture among MGen, Aboitiz Power Corp. and Taiwan Cogeneration Corp.

The target commencement of construction is within 2016, with commercial operation expected late 2019.

MGen is currently looking for partners for a 2 x 600-MW coal-fired power plant in Quezon. Atimonan One Energy is the project proponent.

The awarding of an Engineering, Procurement and Construction contract is targeted within the third quarter of the year. Target completion of Unit 1 is early 2021.

Reyes said MGen is still looking at 1,000 MW for gas, 100 MW for hydropower and 50 MW to 100 MW for wind.

“In terms of gas, you want to look at around 1,000 MW, which can be phased. For hydro, we’re looking at relatively significant pumped hydro. Aside from that, we’re working on a run-of-river, as well,” he said.

He said MGen would pick partners for these projects.