Visayas power grid to get p40-B boost from Taiwan firm

MANILA, Philippines - The Visayas power grid will get a much-needed 294-megawatt boost in 2010 when coal plants in Iloilo and Cebu begin operations. Online news site Visayan Daily Star reported that the Cebu Energy Development Corp. said the operations will involve some P40 billion. Cebu Energy Development Corp., whose consortium partners are Global Formosa Power Holdings Inc. and Abovant Holding Inc., is building a 246-megawatt circulating fluidized bed clean coal-fired power plant with three 82-MW units worth P22 billion in Sangi village in Toledo City in Cebu. The facility is expected to be operational in 2010, said Ed Satina, CEDC commercial manager. Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes in 2008 raised fears that if no new plants were built, amid opposition from environment groups, the Visayas could suffer a power shortage. Santina said that of the 246 MW, 220.5 megawatts will be available to the Visayas grid in 2010 with 73.5 MW available by March, 147 MW by June, and 246 MW by September to Cebu and nearby provinces. Power from the Cebu plant is being offered for sale to Negros Island also and so far two power cooperatives in Negros Oriental have expressed interests, he said. The CEDC coal-plant is different firm from the Cebu-based KEPCO-Salcon Power Corp., with which the Central Negros Electric Cooperative in Bacolod City has signed a contract for the purchase power. In Iloilo City a coal plant worth P18 billion being built in Ingore village in Iloilo City. Satina said it is expected to provide an additional 147 MW to the Visayas grid by the last quarter of 2010. The Cebu plant will use "environment friendly" technology of Formosa Heavy Industries Corp. (FHIC)'s existing plants in Taiwan. However, environment groups in Negros Occidental and Panay have continuously opposed the building of coal plants, saying only green energy options should be entertained. If it is allowed to operate, the Cebu plant will use an enclosed coal conveyor system, have an electronic precipitator that catches solid particles and have a continuous emission monitoring system. - GMANews.TV