All set for power firm’s150-MW plant expansion

CEBU, Philippines - It’s “all systems go” for Global Business Power Corporation as it focuses on the completion of the expansion of its 150-megawatt (MW) PEDC Unit 3 power plant by July 2016.

With the expansion, GBPC looks forward to partnering with the province of Iloilo and the greater Visayas region to support its continuing growth.

The original intent was to expand by utilizing similar two 82MW units.

“But it made more sense to construct a single 150 MW unit due to the positive economic growth in the island of Panay and the Visayas region and in order to provide power at a lowered price,” said GBP executive vice president Jaime Azurin in a statement.

PEDC is already offering the rate of P5.05 per kwH to the Panay-Guimaras Consortium and has sent its offer to other Visayas DUs in Negros, Cebu and Leyte to possibly utilize its capacity as a resource facility to address their needs for power security and lowered energy cost.

Azurin said that the rate is the lowest in Panay and Negros.

It is reportedly P0.25 lower than the power generators’ average rate of P5.30 per kwH in the Visayas.

Azurin added that the construction works for the new plant is ongoing as planned.

On the first week of August, Azurin said the first pile in the boiler area was successfully driven into the ground indicating the official start of civil works which was earlier than the originally-planned kickoff in October.

Meanwhile, Azurin reiterated GBP’s commitment to provide adequate, reliable and cost-efficient power supply to support growth in the region.

He said that to prepare for the energy shortfall for next year, GBP is refurbishing its Toledo Power Company plant in Cebu.

He said that this activity is specifically targeted to serve as a potential for 40 MW of additional reliable power resource in support of the DOE’s projected energy requirements during next year’s summer season and the Asia Pacific Economic Conference meeting.

According to the Department of Energy, the Visayas region is experiencing critical power supply issues as peak demand catches up with the area’s generating capacity of 2,037 MW.

Further DOE data shows that for every percent of growth in the gross domestic product, electricity consumption increases by 1 percent in the Visayas.

With the government’s GDP growth target of 6.5 to 7.5 percent in 2014, electricity consumption is expected to increase at the same rate, the statement reads. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/ATO (FREEMAN)