4 Cebu areas identified as site for coal plant

CEBU, Philippines - Four towns in Cebu are among the 30 areas identified by the Department of Energy as the site for the establishment of a coal-powered power plant project.

These Cebu areas are the towns of Boljoon, Carmen, Naga and Asturias. Investors are given until June 8 to make their offer on these so-called DOE-nominated areas for the establishment of the project.

DOE Secretary Angelo Reyes, during the Visayas Energy Investment Forum held yesterday at Crown Regency Hotel in Cebu City, said there are 47 active operating contracts for coal-powered power plants to be implemented in the country.

As for the country’s energy situation, DOE said the Philippines currently has 15,672 megawatts, including 11,907MW in Luzon, 1,832MW in Visayas and 1,933MW in Mindanao.

The bulk of the total energy capacity comes from coal power plants (4,213MW) followed by oil-based power plants (3,344MW), hydro power plants (3,289MW), natural gas (2,834MW), geothermal (1,958MW), wind energy (33MW) and solar energy (1MW).

In the Visayas, geothermal is the main source of power, followed by diesel power plant, coal power plant, gas turbine and hydropower.

As for the power demand outlook of the country for 2008 to 2017, additional 4,100MW are needed nationwide. About 3,000MW of this will be for Luzon, 500MW for Visayas and 600MW for Mindanao. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/LPM  (THE FREEMAN)