Alsons’ Iligan power plant on track for Sept startup

MANILA, Philippines - Alsons Power Corp., the power generation arm of the Alcantara Group, said it is on track to meeting the September 2013 deadline to operate the 98-megawatt (MW) Iligan diesel power plant.

The company said nine of the plant’s 18 diesel engines, capable of generating 40 MW of electricity, are expected to be online by June.

Alsons Power had earlier met its commitment to deliver full electricity supply from its three existing diesel power plants – the Mapalad Power Corp. (MPC) plant in Iligan City, the Southern Philippines Power Corp. (SPPC) plant in Alabel, Sarangani, and the Western Mindanao Power Corp. (WMPC) plant in Zamboanga City – to the Mindanao grid last May 13 for the national and local elections.

The Alcantara Group, through MPC, assumed control of and began rehabilitation work on the 20-year-old Iligan plant in March.

Five of the 18 diesel engines have been fully repaired, rehabilitated and brought online, the company said.

The company started operating the plant on a ramp up basis in April 2013 and began producing at least 10 MW for delivery to its client distribution utilities in Mindanao early this month.

The Alcantara Group has set aside P1.2 billion for the acquisition, rehabilitation, and other expenses for the re-operation of the Mapalad plant.

By the end of May 2013, the company will bring four more diesel engines online, which will bring to nine the operating engines of the plant. The plant would produce at least 40 MW of electricity by June 2013 from the nine operating plants.

The Iligan diesel plant will complete delivery of its full 98 MW capacity by September 2013, the company said.

“The heightened operation of these diesel plants helped ensure a steady supply of uninterrupted power for Iligan City, Zamboanga City, and other key areas of Mindanao during the election period,” the group said.