Coal power plant to start construction in 3rd quarter

TUBOD, Lanao del Norte, Philippines – The anticipated coal-power plant of GNPower will soon start to rise in the coastal town of Kauswagan sometime in the third quarter of this year. 

This was revealed to media by GNPower project engineer Neil Carlo Francisco during the Protected Areas Management Board (PAMB) meeting on Feb. 6 at the Macapagal Training Center here.

During public consultations, the power plant project received 92-percent acceptability from different stakeholders in the community.

“We are very pleased with the outcome, this is the highest acceptability score we got so far from a host community,” Francisco said.

Upon its full operation, the plant will help solve the power crisis in Mindanao and allow for expansion of local industries with the stable supply of power now readily available.

“We have a signed contract with AMRECO (Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperatives) composed of about 20 electric cooperatives from all over Mindanao for a total of 300 megawatts,” Francisco added.  

GNPower already operates two coal-power plants in Mauban Plant in Quezon province and  Mariveles Plant in Bataan.

“What’s good about GNPower is that they meet the international standards in environmental and work safety. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is also on board to ensure that there is minimal impact to the environment,” Gov. Khalid Dimaporo said.

“GNPower’s investment here in Lanao del Norte not only addresses the Mindanao power crisis but it also shows that it’s easy to invest here in Lanao del Norte. From the municipal level, provincial and even up to congressional level, we all work hard together for development. This is our style of leadership,” Dimaporo added.

More than P22 million is  earmarked annually as GNPower’s livelihood assistance to local residents and nearby communities. The fund also will help in the electrification of remote barangays in the province.

For his part, project engineer Neil Carlo Francisco assured the people of Kauwagan and Lanao del Norte that “they will comply with all the requirements for this vital project and partner with the local community.”