Davao power plant to provide 300 MW

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – This city is expected to get additional 300 megawatts as the AboitizPower subsidiary Therma South Inc. is set to complete its baseload power plant here by the first half of 2015.

Davao City is considered to be the biggest power consumer in the south, as it is considered to be the leading growth center in this part of the country.

The P25-billion power plant is seen to provide the much-needed power supply in Mindanao that has been plagued by continuous power outages that last up to eight to 10 hours in certain areas.

Mindanao is largely dependent on hydroelectric power but the water levels in its main sources such as the Pulangi River in Bukidnon and Lake Lanao is Marawi City have lately been low and not enough to supply the demand.

AboitizPower first vice president for Mindanao affairs Manuel Orig said the coal-fired power plant in Barangay Binugao, Toril district here is nearly 50 percent complete, with some 2,000 workers working round the clock to finish it.

“We are fully committed in delivering our power to our customers on time and help relieve Mindanaoans of the debilitating effects of the Mindanao power crisis,” Orig said.

On-site preparations started in late 2011 after the project got approval from the Davao City council. Full construction began in 2012.

If not addressed, the power shortage in Mindanao is projected to hit 484 MW by 2015, enough to cut off power supply to the major cities of Davao, General Santos, Cagayan de Oro, Butuan, and Zamboanga.