IPPs show interest in NE power plants

The second pre-bid conference for the sale of the 100-megawatt (MW) Pantabangan and the 12-MW Masiway hydroelectric power plants in Nueva Ecija has attracted several interested parties, mostly independent power producers (IPPs).

The pre-bid conference was conducted by Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM), the agency tasked to privatize the generation assets of National Power Corp. (Napocor).

PSALM vice president for asset management and electricity trading Froilan A. Tampinco discussed with the parties the provisions contained in the revised draft of the operation and maintenance agreement (O&M) for the two hydropower plants.

Tampinco also threshed out the terms and conditions set by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) regarding the commercial, technical operation and maintenance of the non-power components of the plants.

Under its charter, the NIA administers all irrigation systems and other pertinent non-power components of multi-purpose hydropower facilities. These include the Pantabangan and Masiway dams that supply the water used by the two hydropower plants to generate electricity.

The firms include Kepco Philippines Corp., CalEnergy, Aboitiz Equity Ventures with partner Norwegian firm SN Power, First Generation Holdings Corp., and TransAsia Power.

Last year, 13 companies participated in the pre-bid conference for the Masiway hydropower plant while 24 investors expressed interest in the Pantabangan plant.

PSALM has also lined up for sale other big-ticket facilities such as the 275-MW Tiwi geothermal plant and the 425-MW Makban geothermal power facilities.