Alsons plans expansion of power capacity

MANILA, Philippines - Alsons Consolidated Resources Inc. (ACR), the energy holding company of the Alcantara Group, said it plans a five-fold expansion of its power generation business in Mindanao.

During the company’s annual stockholders meeting yesterday, ACR chairman and president Tomas Alcantara said the group is eyeing a “five-fold expansion.”

 â€œOur strong commitment to the energy and power business in Mindanao is a carefully calculated strategy that the company has decided to adopt, in recognition of the tremendous opportunities available to those who are both decisive and prepared to act in this market,” Alcantara said.

The company has re-acquired and rehabilitated Mapalad Power Corp. (MPC), which commenced operations in May last year to provide needed power for the 2013 midterm elections.

MPC is now operating at a capacity of 103 megawatts (MW), providing power to Iligan City, Gen. Santos City, Zamboanga City and other key areas of Mindanao, the company said.

Aside from MPC, Alcantara said the company is on track with the construction of Sarangani Energy Corp. 210-MW coal-fired power plant in Maasim, Sarangani province, which is expected to go online in 2015 and provide additional power for Mindanao.

According to the company, the plant would have an initial 105 MW output in 2015 for about 3.47 million people in Sarangani province, Gen. Santos City and key areas in South Cotabato, Compostela Valley, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur and majority of Davao del Norte.

By 2016, the company hopes to reach the Maasim plant’s full potential of 210 MW.

The $570-million plant is the single biggest investment in Sarangani Province and Region 12, Alcantara said.

Furthermore, the company also underscored ACR’s expansion with the development of the 105-MW San Ramon Power Inc. (SRPI) coal-fired plant in Sitio San Ramon, Talisayan in Zamboanga City.

To complete its five-fold expansion, ACR is beefing up its stake in Mindanao by developing a 17-MW hydroelectric plant in Siguil River in Maasim, Sarangani.

 â€œThese five projects will complement and not replace the operations of existing power generating projects, namely the Western Mindanao Power Corp. (WMPC) and Southern Philippines Power Corp. (SPPC). These two facilities can still perform in a competitive market and will play a vital role in the company’s operations,” Alcantara said.