Napocor earns P102 M from spot sales

The National Power Corp. (Napocor) earned a total of P102 million last year from its one-day power sales scheme (ODPS).

The amount was P2-million higher than original target of P100-million, according to Napocor officials.

Under the ODPS scheme, Napocor bids out on a daily basis unutilized energy capacity using an electronic, on-line bidding process. The trading scheme is open to all Napocor customers who have a self-generating capacity of at least one megawatt.

Napocor has earned a total of P120 million since the scheme started in June 1998, promting revenue target for this year.

"We are setting a revenue target of P400-million for the entire year 2000," said ODPS project manager Alberto C. Guanzon.

In the fourth quarter of 1999 alone, the program attracted two major industries with a required capacity of almost 10 megawatts (MW). Bacnotan Cement Corp's in La Union sought 6.6 MW while San Miguel Corp's packaging products plant in Mandaue, Cebu sought three MW in the same period.

The government energy firm was also successful in signing its first ODPS contract with a Southern Luzon-based firm. The Fortune Cement Corp. sought an allowable five megawatts.

Napocor is likewise looking at attracting new participants including 40 self-generating industries operating within the franchise area of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).

Among these are Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. and Republic-Asahi Glass Corp., which are reportedly nearby to sign an ODPS agreement with Napocor. The government energy firm and Meralco signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) allowing the latter to participate in the ODPS scheme on behalf of the 61 firms operating within its service area.

In a press statement, Napocor claims that it is also set to sign separate ODPS contracts with the Lucky Tableware Factory in Cebu and Vicsal Development, which is made up of Metro Ayala and Gaisano Shopping Malls, also in Cebu. This brings the number of ODPS customers in the Visayas Grid alone to seven, with an aggregate capacity of 50-MW.

Among the existing Napocor clients who regularly participate in the ODPS are Philex Mining Corp., General Milling Corp., Philippine Sinter Corp., Picop Resources Inc., East Asian Utilities Inc., Philphos, San Miguel Corp. in Cebu, and Cebu Private Power.