DOE relies on committed power projects in next 2 yrs

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Energy (DOE) is counting on committed projects of the private sector to addr ss growing demand in power in the country in the next two years.

According to the latest data from the department, the country is looking at a projected power deficit of 184 megawatts in 2015 and another 635 MW in 2015 for Luzon.

The DOE’s latest projection is based on a project power demand growth rate of 4.2 percent and 4.8 percent in the next two years and on the prevailing list of available capacity and committed power plants.

The list of power projects in Luzon as of Jan. 13 showed that committed project would provide an additional 1,467 MW in capacity.

In the Visayas grid, there is a projected deficit of 121 MW for 2015 although committed projects are expected to provide additional capacity of 429.6 MW, according to the latest data from the DOE.

In Mindanao, the projected deficit for 2015 is bigger at 406 MW while the committed projects are 920 MW. 

The list of committed projects for Luzon amount to P113.6 billion and have varying commitment dates from this year to March 2015.

Among these projects are South Luzon Thermal Energy Corp.’s 135-MW coal-fired power plant to be put up in Batangas in August 2014, Anda Power Corp.’s 82-MW coal-fired power plant, Energy World Corp.’s 600-MW Pagbilao combined cycle power plant and the 100-MW San Gabriel Avion project of First Gen Corp.

In the Visayas grid. the list of committed projects amount to P43.8 billion. These include Palm Thermal Consolidated Holdings Corp.’s 2x135-MW Concepcion coal-fired power plant in Iloilo, the 82-MW coal-fired power plant of Global Business Power Corp. and the 8-MW hydropower plant of Sunwest Water & Electric Co., Inc.

The Mindanao grid, meanwhile, will have an additional capacity of 905 MW, with a total cost of P73.5 billion.

These include the 2x150-MW coal-fired power plant of Aboitiz Power’s Therma South Inc. and Alsons Power Corp.’s 200-MW coal-fired power plant.