PNOC-EDC to build wind power facilities

The PNOC-Energy Development Corp. (PNOC-EDC), majority-owned by the Lopez family, will push through with the development of wind power projects having a combined capacity of 140 megawatts (MW), a company official said.

PNOC-EDC director and former Energy Secretary Vincent Perez said the new owner (Lopez group) of the company is “reviewing the feasibility of the wind power projects”.

Department of Energy (DOE) director Mario Marasigan confirmed Perez’ statement, saying that PNOC-EDC’s wind power projects form part of the indicative power project of DOE.

As proposed, the project will be done in three phases: 42 MW for Phase I, 40-60 MW for Phase 2 and 10-20 MW for the third phase. Another 20-MW of wind power project is also being eyed by the company in Ilocos Norte.

“There is indication that PNOC-EDC will continue with the wind projects under a private sector initiative,” Marasigan said.

But Marasigan admitted that the company is facing some problems with the bidding of the project which was initially planned to be funded by Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

“They have to rebid it and even lower the proposed size of the first phase from 40 to 36 M. Because of the delay, the price of the materials that would be used for the project increased,” the DOE official said.

The country’s premier geothermal firm began investigating wind potentials in the Philippines in 1999, resulting in the confirmation of about 120 MW of wind power in Burgos, Ilocos Norte.

Aside from the Northern Luzon wind power project, PNOC EDC has lined up several wind power projects all over the country.

It has already completed the feasibility study for the 40-MW Pagudpud wind power project also in Ilocos Norte.