Sarangani Energy to complete initial phase of coal plant in ’15

MANILA, Philippines - Sarangani Energy Corp. (SEC) expects to complete the first phase of its P13-billion coal-fired power plant in Maasim, Sarangani by September 2015.

SEC, which is part of the Alcantara Group’s Alsons Consolidated Resources Inc., said the first phase of the 210 megawatt plant will have a capacity of 105 MW.

The second phase – another 105 MW – is expected to commence operations by 2016, it added.

Alsons said SEC and its contractor, Daelim Industrial Co. Ltd. (Daelim) of South Korea are currently preparing the power block area, which will contain the plant’s steam core components.

These include the circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler to generate steam from coal and the steam-driven turbine generator that will produce electricity.

The Department of Energy is counting on the plant to be part of a long-term solution to the current power crunch in Mindanao.

The full 105 MW capacity of the plant’s first phase has already been contracted to various cooperatives such as the South Cotabato 2 Electric Cooperative Inc. (Socoteco II), Agusan Del Norte Electric Cooperative (Anec), the Agusan del Sur Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Aselco) and the Davao Del Norte Electric Cooperative Inc. (Danec).

At least 10 MW of the plant’s second phase has already been booked by Socoteco I.

Alsons holds a 75 percent equity in SEC while the remaining 25 percent is owned by Toyota Tsusho Corp., the trading company of the Toyota Group.

Apart from the SEC plant, Alsons is in the advanced stages of development for the 105 MW San Ramon Power Inc. coal-fired power plant in Zamboanga City.

Alsons’ other power subsidiaries include Western Mindanao Power Corp.’s 100-MW diesel plant, Southern Philippines Power Corp.’s 55-MW diesel plant in Sarangani province, Mapalad Power Corp.’s 98-MW Iligan diesel power plant, and power plant operations and management company Alto Power Management Corp.