Trans-Asia eyes P33-billion new power projects

MANILA, Philippines – Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp. is looking to invest P33 billion in new power projects over the next five years, a ranking company executive said.

These new projects, which are currently under study, will allow the company to generate almost 700 megawatts (MW) of power by 2017, said Roberto M. Laviña, executive vice-president and chief finance officer of Trans-Asia.

“Total project cost is P33 billion under various assumptions for debt-to-equity level and participation,” he added.

For instance, the Trans-Asia is looking at the second line for the South Luzon Thermal Energy Corp. (SLTEC) worth P9.5 billion.

SLTEC is a joint venture between Ayala Corp.’s AC Energy Holdings Inc. and Trans-Asia. SLTEC will build a P13-billion, 135-MW circulating fluidized bed power plant in Calaca, Batangas.

Laviña said the company is also conducting studies for the second phase of the Maibarara geothermal power plant in Calamba, Laguna and Sto. Tomas, Batangas.

The expansion might cost around P3 billion, he said.

For North Mindanao, Trans-Asia wants to put up a coal-fired power plant to lessen the impact of the ongoing power crisis in the island.

The company is also planning to undertake several renewable energy ventures like wind projects, Laviña said.

“If all these projects come into play, then we will need approximately P5 billion in the next five years,” he said, referring to the equity contribution of Trans-Asia.

“These new projects will increase generating capacity to 687 MW by 2017,” he added.

Last year, the company had a power generation capacity of 180 MW, which is expected to increase to 201 MW this year, 221 MW in 2013 and 341 MW in 2014.

Profits of Trans-Asia surged to P408 million last year from P14.74 million the previous year on the back of higher trading revenues from its power business.

Trans-Asia engages primarily in oil exploration, but has investments in cement manufacturing, coal trading and power generation.

Trans-Asia also holds Service Contract (SC) 6A and 6B in Northwest Palawan, SC 14 (Tara Block) and SC 14B-1 (North Matinloc) in Northwest Palawan, SC 51 in the East Visayan Basin, SC 55 in Southwest Palawan and SC 69 in the Visayas Basin.

Each service contract has a predevelopment term of three years and a 25-year development stage, which may be extended for another 25 years.