Iloilo plant secures license to start comm’l operation

by Myrna Velasco August 3, 2016

http://www.mb.com.ph/iloilo-plant-secures-license-to-start-comml-operation/

The 135-megawatt coal-fired power plant of Palm Concepcion Power Corporation (PCPC) has secured its provisional certificate of compliance (COC) from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), thereby, paving its foray into full commercial operations.

“The provisional COC will eventually be replaced by a final COC as advised by the ERC,” project developer firm PCPC has noted.

According to PCPC Senior Vice President Winifredo Pangilinan, the project was bequeathed with the COC “after careful determination by ERC of the company’s compliance with the financial, technical and environmental requirements.”

The major value-added point of the power plant’s commercial operation is on beefing up power supply for the Visayas grid – especially Panay Island that in years had suffered from rolling power interruptions.

PCPC said “the construction of the power plant is already 99.5-percent completed as of end of July, 2016, while commissioning is expected to be completed by first week of August.”

The Iloilo power plant had signed up several off-takers (buyers) of its generated capacity, mainly electric cooperatives in the Negros, Cebu, Leyte, and Panay areas.

The bilateral power supply contracts were previously lodged with the industry regulator for its approval prior to enforcement, primarily on the rates that shall be passed on to end-consumers.

“PCPC is a critical addition to the power generation industry especially in Panay, Negros, and Cebu islands since it will augment the growing power requirements in Iloilo, Aklan, Negros, and Cebu which are among the top tourist destinations in the country,” the developer-firm has touted.

PCPC is a joint venture of Palm Thermal Consolidated Holdings Corporation of publicly-listed A. Brown Company, Inc.; and Jin Navitas Resource, Inc. of the Rebisco Group.

A COC is a major requirement before a power plant project could even declare reaching full commercial operations. Its issuance is guided by the relevant rules set forth by the industry regulator.