ERC approves CoC for KEPCO's Unit 2 power plant

CEBU, Philippines - The Energy Regulatory Commission has approved the issuance of a Certificate of Compliance to the Korean Electric Power Corporation for its 100 MW Unit 2 Cebu-Coal-Fired Power Plant located in Colon, Naga City.

The power plant is expected to provide 11.24-percent of the power requirements of the Visayas Grid. The issuance of the COC by the ERC would mean that the power plant can now permanently operate.

According to ERC, the company has satisfactorily complied with the financial, technical and environmental requirements for the issuance of a COC.

KEPCO was able to complete the final stage of the testing and commissioning of the Unit 2 and was able to submit to the ERC the statement of Reliability and Performance Test results.

The evaluation revealed that KEPCO is well within the Market Share Limitations set by ERC pursuant to cross ownership, market power abuse, and anti-competitive behavior provisions of Republic Act No. 9136 otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001.

Based on its Debt Service Capability Ratio, the power firm also has the capability to finance its long term debts throughout the period covered by the COC.

KEPCO’s Unit 2 uses the Circulation Fluidized Bed Combustion (CFBC) technology which reduces the generated greenhouse emissions while offers cost savings in its operation. 

KEPCO has a Power Supply Agreement with nine companies wherein seven of which are electric cooperatives. 

These are Cebu Electric Cooperative I and II, Central Negros Electric Cooperative Inc., the VMC Rural Electric Service Cooperative, Negros Oriental Electric Cooperative I and II, and Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative Inc.; — oneprivate utility (Mactan Electric Cooperative and one wholesale aggregator (IN2Power).  (FREEMAN)