Co-op to operate Mindoro hydropower plant

MANILA, Philippines - The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has allowed an electric cooperative to operate a hydropower plant in Mindoro while renewing the compliance permit of a Cebu-based power producer.

The state-owned energy regulator said it issued a Certificate of Compliance (COC) for a hydropower project of Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Ormeco) on Jan. 24.

“Ormeco’s Linao-Cawayan mini-hydroelectric power plant is now authorized to commence commercial operations,” ERC said in a statement.

A COC is a requirement prior to starting commercial operations of a power generation plant.

The newly-constructed 2.175-megawatt (MW) mini-hydroelectric power plant is composed of three units with an installed capacity of 725 kilowatts (kW) each.

The power plant, which is connected to the main distribution system of Ormeco, is located in Baranggay Calangatan, San Teodoro in Oriental Mindoro.

Ormeco completed testing and commissioning the plant last year.

“For this particular power plant, Ormeco was exempted from compliance with the financial standards since the mini-hydroelectric power plant is located in a missionary electrification area,” ERC said.

Meanwhile, ERC also approved the application for the renewal of the COC of SPC Island Power Corp. for its diesel power plant.

Hence, SPC can continue operating its 1.56-MW Olango diesel power plant for another five years.

“The ERC is mandated to monitor periodically the operations of generation facilities to ensure their compliance with the standards set in the COC so that the long-term interests of electricity consumer interests are safeguarded,” said ERC Chairperson Zenaida G. Cruz-Ducut.

SPC’s power plant, which is located in the Island of Olango, Lapu-lapu City in Cebu, is composed of four units.

Two units are rated at 280 kW, one at 400 kW and one at 600 kW.

It serves solely the power requirements of the Mactan Electric Co., Inc. franchise area, which is an isolated island grid in the Visayas.

The power plants of Ormeco and SPC are not subject to the 30 percent per island grid and 25 percent national grid market share limitations for operating in isolated distribution systems, the state-owned regulator said.