First Gas reports successful firing of Sta Rita on natural gas

First Gas Power Corp. (FGPC), the downstream natural gas subsidiary of the Lopez group, reported yesterday the successful ignition of natural gas of the first of four units (250 megawatts each unit) of the Sta. Rita power plant in Batangas.

The 1,000 MW-Sta. Rita power plant is one of three buyers of the natural gas from Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (Spex)’s Malampaya natural gas project in northern Palawan. With the successful ignition, Sta. Rita becomes the Philippines’ first combined cycle power plant to use indigenous natural gas.

The other two power plants are the 500 MW San Lorenzo power plant, also owned by the Lopezes and 1,200 MW Kepco-Ilijan power plant, a joint venture between state-owned National Power Corp. (Napocor) and Korea Electric Power Corp. (Kepco).

FGPC president Peter Garrucho expressed optimism that the utilization of natural gas would further help in the government’s thrust to develop indigenous sources of energy. "I am delighted to announce the successful firing of the Sta. Rita plant on natural gas. This is a significant milestone in the Malampaya project and a major step towards national self-reliance in energy production. We look forward to completing gas commissioning as soon as possible and to the commercial success of the Malampaya project," Garrucho said.

Based on the current gas commissioning schedule, all of the units (1,000 MW) will be commissioned on natural gas by the end of December this year. FGPC expects the plant to start delivering power to the grid, using natural gas, as early as yesterday (Oct. 3).

The commencement of the gas commissioning works is consistent with FGPC’s commitment to the National Government of using the natural gas from the Malampaya gas fields, once it becomes available.

Spex started delivering natural gas for the commissioning of Sta. Rita power plant last Oct. 1. Commercial operations of the Sta. Rita power plant using natural gas will commence on Jan. 1, 2002. – Donnabelle Gatdula