MAASIM, Sarangani, Philippines – The Sarangani Energy Corporation (SEC) is near to finishing the construction of the first phase of its coal-fired power plant and will be able to supply 105 megawatts of power to the Mindanao grid in October 2015 to help ease the power supply problem in Mindanao, according to top company officials.
Nicandro Fucoy, vice president for the power business unit of the Alsons Consolidated Resources Inc., told reporters during a plant visit last week that the company would start the initial firing and test-commissioning of its coal-fired power plant here in February 2015, in time for its scheduled commercial operation in October 2015.
“By February, we expect the construction (of the first phase) to be completed, and so, the test runs will follow,” Fucoy said.
The first phase will generate half of the 210 MW capacity that the Alsons Power Group, through Conal Holdings Corporation and Toyota Tsusho Corporation (TTC) of Japan, is putting up in the area. The company, which is also fast-tracking another 105 MW coal-fired power plant of the San Ramon Power Inc. in Zamboanga peninsula, expects to serve around seven million power consumers in Mindanao.
“As of August this year, the first phase is already 75 per cent complete,” Fucoy said.
He also said the company would soon issue the notice to proceed for the construction of the plant’s second phase this November. The second phase is expected to start operation in 2016. At present, Sarangani Energy is employing 2,500 workers for the construction of its first phase, 75 per cent of them locals. Once the construction is finished, the company will hire 180 workers as regular administrative and operating staffs.
Of the 105 MW of power expected to be on stream in 2015, 70 MW has been contracted by the South Cotabato 2 Electric Cooperative Inc. (Socoteco II), serving the Sarangani and General Santos areas, while the remaining 35 MW has been contracted to other utilities in the surrounding areas serving the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Compostela Valley and Davao del Norte.
The Saranani Energy’s service area will include Koronadal, Kidapawan in North Cotabato, Samal Island and Tagum in Davao del Norte, Bayugan and Butuan in Agusan del Sur and Agusan del Norte and Dapitan and Dipolog in Zamboanga peninsula.
“The power plant will serve as a magnet for industries because almost always, the first question to be asked by investors when they want to invest in the area is, ‘do we have sufficient power supply?’” Fucoy said.
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