Aboitiz Power to prioritize 3 projects

MANILA, Philippines - Aboitiz Power Corp. (APC), the power generation unit of the Aboitiz Group, will focus on three crucial power projects next year with a total capacity of 400 megawatts (MW).

APC senior vice president Luis Miguel Aboitiz said they would prioritize the completion of Davao Coal, Subic Coal and the Ambuklao plants in next year’s program.

The power firm earlier said it plans to put up a 150-MW coal-fired power plant in Davao which will utilize clean coal technology.

“We’re doing site investigation for the Davao coal plant,” Aboitiz said.

There is likewise a plan between APC and its partner Steag State Power Inc., the operator of the 232-MW coal plant at the Phividec Industrial Estate in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental, to expand the capacity of their power plant by 150 MW.

According to Aboitiz, they will soon be bidding out the EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contract for the Subic power plant.

“We will be choosing the engineering, procurement and construction contractor and equipment supplier for the Subic coal plant,” he said.

APC, through Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc. its joint venture company with Taiwan Cogeneration International Corp., will put up a 300-MW coal plant at the Subic Freeport. The plant is expected to be completed by 2013.

In addition, Aboitiz said they expect the completion of the expansion of its Ambuklao hydroelectric power plant project in 2011.

He said APC and joint venture partner SN Power of Norway are planning to increase the capacity of the 75-MW Ambuklao hydro plant in Benguet to 105 MW.

Aboitiz said they have yet to determine the exact amount of capital they would be pouring in for these projects in 2011.