DOE plots new sites for power plants

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Energy (DOE) has identified ideal locations for new power plants to meet over 43,000 megawatts (MW) of projected supply needed until 2040 and to avoid transmission congestion in the process.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said this will guide the private sector on investment opportunities, opened up by the  long-term energy plan. 

“We have already indicated the ideal locations of the needed generation capacities, after considering all the important factors,” he said.

Latest DOE data showed ideal locations to put up new power plants in Luzon are the National Capital Region and Bicol.

For Visayas, ideal sites are in Cebu, Bohol and Samar and for Mindanao, these are Zamboanga Sibugay, Sultan Kudarat and Agusan del Sur.

Factors considered in these locations are the availability of transmission facilities and the projected demand in those areas, the energy chief said.

“Hopefully, with ‘Dutertenomics’ attracting the adequate level of private investments, we can reach our targeted additional power capacity by year 2040 — 43,765 MW,” Cusi said.

The President’s economic agenda, dubbed Dutertenomics, is mainly a program anchored on the rule of law and driven by a massive infrastructure spending, as captured by the slogan “Build, Build, Build.”

Under the plan, the government wants to execute a robust pipeline of public works at an unprecedented speed as it plans to spend P8.4 trillion over the next five years to put up vital infrastructure to cope with the country’s economic growth.

But to meet massive demand in the coming years, the Philippines should start building plants annually starting this year, the energy chief said.

“The 43,000 MW is parallel with the Ambisyon Natin 2040. As we will build the plants on a yearly basis, (that will be) dependent on the demand. Up to 2022, we are forecasting about 12,000 MW of the 43,000 will be in that period. That’s because of the increase in infra building under ‘Build, Build, Build’,” Cusi said.

The energy secretary stressed the need for the executive order (EO) or legislation to declare power projects as projects of national significance.