New power plant rising in Iloilo town as demand seen to rise

ILOILO CITY—Construction of a 135-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Concepcion, Iloilo, has started and proponents expect it to produce more electricity to address growing demand in the Panay and Visayas grids.

Roel Castro, president of project proponent Palm Concepcion Power Corp. (PCPC), said the company has started construction of the first phase of the P13-billion power plant. It is expected to be completed by 2015 and will start commercial operation by the first quarter of 2016.

The PCPC has issued a notice to proceed to its contractors, Castro said.

The company also tapped Alstom Power as supplier of steam turbines and generator for the project.

“The coal plant would be able to provide additional power supply needed with the boom of economic activities in Panay, Negros, and the whole of the Visayas,” Castro said.

Castro said 2015 would be a critical period for the Visayas grid as it would need an additional 100 MW of electricity.

Dr. Walter W. Brown, Palm Thermal Consolidated Holdings Corp. president, said transmission facilities are needed to bring the electricity generated by new plants to consumers.

Concepcion Mayor Millard Villanueva said some 1,000 jobs would be generated by the project for his town. The mayor said Concepcion residents would be given priority in job opportunities for the project.