Trans-Asia to double output of Batangas power plant

Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp., a unit of the Phinma Group, intends to double the capacity of its planned coal-fired power plant in Batangas to 270 megawatts. In the latest status report on the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, the Energy Department said that Trans-Asia initially looked at constructing a 135-megawatt plant but decided to make provisions for a second 135 MW unit. Trans-Asia is in negotiations with a Chinese equipment supplier for the engineering, procurement, and construction works for the Batangas project, the department said in its report. The Chinese company was not named. The Phinma subsidiary has applied for an environmental compliance certificate with Environment and Natural Resources and is now preparing to submit its environmental impact statement. The first 135-MW unit would be completed in three years or by 2013. The plant in Barangay Puting Bato West, Calaca, Batangas will use coal from Semirara Mining Corp. and from Indonesian suppliers as feedstock. The 135-MW unit is estimated to cost P8.5 billion. Trans-Asia, whose shares of stock are traded on the Philippine Stock Exchange, has an existing 3.4 MW bunker coal-fired power plant in Jordan, Guimaras and runs the 52-MW plant that supplies the power requirements of Union Cement Corp. in Norzagaray, Bulacan and in Bacnotan, La Union. —VS, GMANews.TV