GMA switches on 7.5-MW power plant for Boracay

Boracay Island, Aklan – President Arroyo led yesterday the ceremonial switch-on of the 7.5-megawatt (MW) clean-diesel facility in Nabas, Aklan that would help address the power shortage in Boracay, the country’s prime tourist destination.

The Nabas plant was built by Mirant Global, a partnership between Mirant Philippines and Global Business Holdings Inc. (GBHI) of the Metrobank Group. It became fully operational yesterday but will only start selling power to Aklan Electric Cooperative (Akelco) in two to three months. Akelco is the sole distributor of electricity in the province of Aklan which has 17 municipalities, including Boracay.

The power plant, which started construction in June 2004, is part of the P600-million investment by Mirant Global in Aklan, aimed at helping government avert a power shortage amid rising demand in the Visayas.

Aside from the Nabas plant, Mirant Global will also put up a five-MW diesel power plant in the municipality of New Washington which will provide power to Kalibo.

Based on the plan, the Nabas plant would provide power to Boracay through submarine cables.

Mirant Global president Edgardo Bautista said the plant signifies their company’s continued support to government’s efforts to solve the power problem in the Visayas.

"We are pleased to partner with government in addressing the need for reliable and competitively-priced power to fuel the country’s development," Bautista said.

While in the past, resorts in Boracay have suffered from an unreliable flow of power, with the completion of the Nabas facility power flow is expected to stabilize. Nabas is 10 minutes by land to Caticlan, the take-off point to Boracay which is only a 15-minute boat ride away.

"To further maximize Boracay’s potential as the country’s top tourist draw and make it a world-class destination, it is critical for Boracay to have an adequate power supply," said Bautista.

It is also expected that with the new power plant, many resort owners who spent between P9 to P15 per kilowatthour would cut down their electricity cost to P7 to P7.50 per kwh.

Based on the Philippine Power Development Plan of the Department of Energy (DOE) for the period 2004-2013, power demand in the Visayas will increase by 1,250 MW.

Mirant Philippines pioneered private sector assistance in resolving the energy crisis during the late 1980s. With its strong commitment to contribute in building the nation, the company spearheaded the construction of power generating facilities that provided both immediate and long-term solutions to the country’s evolving energy needs.