MANILA, Philippines - Off-grid energy producer DMCI Power Corp. has invested P3.5 billion worth of power projects in missionary areas in the last six years.
DMCI Power president Nestor Dadivas said the investments were made from 2010 to 2016, covering four small-scale diesel and bunker-fired facilities in Masbate (July 2010), Palawan (December 2012), Oriental Mindoro (2016) and Sultan Kudarat (January 2016).
He said the company took part and won in biddings to build power plants in the areas.
While the four plants have small capacities, they provide enough electricity supply in their respective missionary areas, Dadivas said.
“We have been investing heavily in far-flung areas in the past couple of years because we believe in their growth potential. Now we are posting double-digit growth because of our investments,” he said.
In the third quarter, DMCI Power’s total electricity sales rose 19 percent year-on-year from 154.17 gigawatt-hours to 183.43 gwh.
Robust sales fueled a 12-percent improvement in the company’s bottom line from P305 million to P342 million.
This year, the company is spending another P620 million to build a 2x4.95-megawatt (MW) bunker-fired power plant in Aborlan, Palawan, scheduled to go online by year-end.
The project has been granted a six-year income tax holiday from the Board of Investments (BOI).
DMCI Power is also switching on its P900-million 3x6.3-MW bunker-fired power plant in Irawan, Puerto Princesa by late 2017.
The Irawan power project is being constructed at the request of the Palawan Electric Cooperative (Paleco).
Dadivas said the company is keen on participating in more auctions to provide power in off-grid areas, such as Marinduque for a 10-MW facility and Lubang, Mindoro for a 3-5 MW power project.
Meanwhile, its affiliate Semirara Mining and Power Corp. (SMPC) is looking to fill around 930 positions to support the site rehabilitation of its Panian pit and commercial operation of its Molave and Narra mines.
In addition to dump truck and shovel operators, SMPC needs additional safety, mechanical, civil works, geodetic and maintenance personnel for its expanded operations.
“We will prioritize the hiring of qualified applicants from the host community. If there are residents who need additional training in order to qualify, we can also help with that,” SMPC president and COO Victor Consunji said.
In 2006, SMPC established Semirara Training Center Inc. (STCI) in Semirara Island to allow locals and workers’ dependents develop marketable skills.
A TESDA-accredited technical and vocational school, STCI offers certificate courses on automotive servicing, industrial electricity, metal welding, among others.
Earlier, SMPC said rehabilitation of the Panian pit would start soon after it closed following the depletion of its mineable coal reserves.
The depletion was certified by the Department of Energy (DOE) after its visit to Semirara Island last Sept. 20 to 21.
Both DMCI Power and SMPC are wholly-owned units of DMCI Holdings Inc. of the Consunji Group.