Zamora, Chinese partner to build LNG-fired power plant

MANILA, Philippines — Businessman Salvador “Buddy” Zamora II, together with a Chinese partner, is building a 1.1-gigawatt LNG-fired power plant in Zambales, a project that seeks to help address the country’s energy security.

In an interview with The STAR, Zamora disclosed his ambitious project, which would be in partnership with Energy China Group, a leading and international advanced engineering conglomerate with a well known brand in the power industry in China and globally.

“It will be the first LNG plant in the Philippines,” Zamora said.

He said the plant is targeted to be operational within the next three years and is eyeing to have a power supply agreement with Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), the country’s largest power distributor.

The plant is also targeting to supply the Clark and Subic Freeport Zones, which are also both in northern Luzon.

Barring any major stumbling block, the Zamora-Energy China Group partnership will be the first group to develop an LNG hub in the country, possibly eclipsing plans of other companies.

LNG is natural gas that has been converted into liquid for ease of storage or transport.

Many energy companies in the Philippines are keen on developing LNG, as environmental groups continue to call for the use of cleaner energy and amid the looming depletion of the deep water gas-to-power Malampaya natural gas plant in offshore Palawan, which could happen as early as 2022.

Energy World Corp. of Australia, for instance, has not been able to take off with its plan to put up a 650-megawatt liquefied natural gas plant and terminal in Pagbilao, Quezon province.

It is having difficulty getting a connection to the Luzon grid and may need the help of the Energy Regulatory Commission, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines and the National Transmission Corp.

Aside from the planned LNG plant, Zamora, through Menlo Capital and his company the Tranzen Group Inc. also plans to supply LNG to small islands that are not connected to the grid such as Mindoro, Marinduque and Puerto Prinsesa among others.

The plan is to have LNG-mounted barges to supply at least 30 MW of power to these islands, depending on their needs. The LNG will be sourced from Indonesia.

Zamora’s energy projects are just among his many businesses. He recently just made his foray into the telecommunications business by taking control of Philippine Telegraph & Telephone Corp. (PTT).

With his entry, Zamora is now chairman of PT&T while businessman Benjamin Bitanga is now president and chief executive officer.

PT&T, founded in 1962, originally provided some of the first Philippines national telegrams and analogue long distance public voice services.

Aside from telco, he also has investments in mining, property and agriculture, among others.