Lopez, Razon, RSA firms vying for GEA-3 contracts

MANILA, Philippines — Power companies backed by some of the country’s wealthiest clans have been shortlisted for the government’s third green energy auction round (GEA-3).

In an advisory on Jan. 28, the Department of Energy (DOE) said 12 companies are eligible to proceed with the auction round next month.

The qualified bidders include the Lopez Group’s Energy Development Corp., Bac-Man Geothermal Inc. and First Gen Hydro Power Corp. as well as tycoon Enrique Razon Jr.’s Ahunan Power Inc. and Olympia Violago Water and Power Inc.

Also joining the bidding war are tycoon Ramon Ang-led San Roque Hydropower Inc., Maibarara Geothermal Inc. of the Yuchengco Group and businessman Dexter Tiu-led Repower Energy Development Corp.

Completing the list of eligible bidders are Pan Pacific Renewable Power Phils. Corp., Pulangi Hydro Power Corp., United Hydro Power Builders Corp. and COHECO Badeo Corp.

All qualified companies must submit proof of the posting of the bid bond until noon of Feb. 5, the DOE said.

For GEA-3, the government is offering impounding hydro, pumped storage hydro and geothermal contracts with a combined capacity of 4,650 megawatts.

The auction proper is scheduled on Feb. 11, with the notice of award targeted for issuance as early as May.

The certificate of award, meanwhile, is expected to be released from June 6 to July 4.

GEA is a program designed to trigger the expansion of the country’s renewable energy capacity to boost the government’s target of scaling up the share of renewables in the energy mix to 35 percent by 2030.