Kepco, PNOC tie up for hydropower proj

Korea Electric Power Corp. (Kepco), through its local arm Kepco Philippines (Kephilco), plans to undertake with PNOC-Energy Development Corp. (PNOC-EDC) a 16.5-megawatt (MW) hydroelectric power project in Antique.

Kephilco general manager for business development Rolando Bacani said the hydropower facility, located in Villa Siga, Patnongon, Antique, is expected to augment power supply in the Visayas.

Bacani said the project is in line with the company’s commitment to help in the development of the country’s renewable energy sources.

The project has been submitted for approval by the National Economic and Development Authority-Investment Coordinating Council (NEDA -ICC).

Based on the Department of Energy’s energy resource assessment data, Panay Island has a hydroelectric potential of about 70 MW with Villa Siga accounting for 32 MW.

On top of the hydropower sources, Panay also has wind power potential of 428 MW and for biomass at 44 MW.

For its part, the Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) has been exploring the economic feasibility of a number of mini-hydropower plant projects in the country, including a possible 25-MW project in Villa Siga.

Aside from the Antique hydro project, PNOC is also studying the feasibility of developing the 23-MW Timbaban mini-hydro plant in Aklan; 18-MW Catuiran mini-hydro plant in Oriental Mindoro; and the 17.3-MW Sicopong mini-hydro plant in Negros Oriental.

PNOC is also conducting various feasibility studies on mini-hydropower projects in Langogan and Babuyan in Palawan and another in Pasil in Kalinga.

Aside from Kephilco, DOE had also identified another Korean firm, Fusion International, as one of the potential resource developers for the Villa Siga project.

In pursuit of its commitment to promote the use of renewable energy sources, Kephilco has also signified keen interest to bid for the hydropower plants of the National Power Corp. (Napocor) that will be sold by the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM).

There are at least four hydro plants slated for privatization within the year: the 75-MW Ambuklao, 100-MW Binga, 0.8-MW Amlan and 246-MW Angat.

Kephilco is also looking at developing geothermal energy sources. It has indicated plans to participate in the bidding for the 192-MW Palinpinon geothermal plant in Negros, the 112.5-MW Tongonan geothermal plant, 275-MW Tiwi geothermal power plant in Tiwi, Albay and the 425.3-MW Makban geothermal power plant in Laguna and Batangas.

It has also expressed interest in bidding for coal-fired power plants that will be auctioned by the government, although Bacani did not say which coal plant Kephilco will be bidding for.

The Korean power firm has a rehabilitate-operate-maintain contract for the 650-MW Malaya thermal power plant in Pillilia, Rizal. It also has a build-operate-transfer contract for the 1200-MW Ilijan natural gas power project in Ilijan, Batangas.

Aside from the Ilijan expansion, Kephilco is also pursuing a 200-MW coal power plant in Cebu, which is scheduled for groundbreaking ceremonies today. The Cebu plant is in partnership with Salcon Power.

Kephilco will also invest $50 million to build the Luzon-Mindoro submarine cable. Kepco is advancing the funding for the construction of the 230-kilovolt line in order to "create a market" for its 1,200-MW Ilijan natural gas power plant in Batangas.