Mitsubishi Power seeks to tap rising electricity demand in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — Japanese energy solutions provider Mitsubishi Power is aiming to capture more opportunities in the Philippines by supporting new power plant buildouts amid growing electricity demand.

Akihiro Ondo, managing director and CEO of Mitsubishi Power Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., reaffirmed the group’s commitment to supplying critical equipment and services to support the entry of additional gas and renewable energy capacity.

“We would like to contribute to enhance the portfolio of power generation in the Philippines,” Ondo told The STAR.

He cited Mitsubishi Power’s high-efficiency combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) technology and geothermal steam turbines as key solutions to help meet the country’s electricity needs while advancing its energy transition.

CCGT plants use both gas and steam to generate electricity. Modern CCGTs, according to Ondo, can produce more power while emitting less carbon dioxide per unit of electricity generated.

These plants play a vital role as the Philippines also gears up for more data center investments, Ondo said.

Aside from supporting new project developments, Mitsubishi Power is also keen on helping power plants operate more efficiently through maintenance services and equipment upgrades.

“One of the important approaches to the Philippine market is to maximize the benefits of existing facilities to stabilize electricity supply across the Philippines, especially in Luzon,” Ondo said.

At present, Mitsubishi Power supports more than a quarter of the country’s total installed capacity through major power plant developments, including the 1,200-megawatt Ilijan gas-fired facility in Batangas.

In June, the company signed a long-term parts and services agreement with LNGPH, the multibillion-dollar gas venture of tycoons Manuel V. Pangilinan, Ramon Ang and Sabin Aboitiz, to ensure the reliable operation of the Ilijan plant.

Under the deal, Mitsubishi Power will supply critical components and services, including hot and spare parts, repairs and technical advisory support for the M501G gas turbines.

The M501G series comprises heavy-duty gas turbines developed by Mitsubishi Power for combined-cycle power plants, enabling efficient, large-scale electricity generation.