^

Business

Asia Pacific Energy allots $60 M for expansion

- Donnabelle L. Gatdula -

Asia Pacific Energy Corp., a subsidiary of the Taiwan-based Formosa Heavy Industries Corp., is planning to spend some $60 million to expand its capacity by another 50 megawatt (MW).

APEC operations superintendent Andel Bacalla said they are looking at the possibility of putting the Phase II of the 50-MW APEC clean-coal co-generation power plant within the Trust International Paper Corp. (TIPCO) economic zone.

“This is just in the planning stage. If there would be more power demand, we will look into the Phase II,” he said.

At present, APEC sells the power from the 50 MW coal-fired facility to the said economic zone locators.

The power plant was built by Formosa in 2006. At present, it is running at a dependable capacity of 42 MW and is being fed with a combination of local and imported coal.

APEC sources its local coal requirements from Semirara Corp. and its imported coal from Indonesia.

The APEC power plant uses the circulating fluidized bed (CFB) clean-coal technology.

If the expansion of the APEC pushed through, Bacalla said they would be utilizing the same technology.

The CFB uses a unique process to capture the sulfur dioxide gas produced when fuel is burned.

In addition to the fuel, fine-grained limestone is fed into the furnace. The limestone reacts with the sulfur dioxide gas to form gypsum, the same material used in wallboard.

CFB technology has major benefits to the environment. Because a CFB operates at lower temperature than other types of power plants burning solid fuels, nitrogen oxide emissions are lower.

The use of limestone to capture sulfur dioxide, combined with the filters to remove fine particles from the exhaust air, make a CFB one of the cleanest ways to burn waste coal and other solid fuels.

CFB units have operated with high reliability in the US and worldwide for more than 20 years.

“The success of this advanced clean-coal technology makes it ideal for the clean and economical generation of steam and electricity,” the official said.

ANDEL BACALLA

APEC

ASIA PACIFIC ENERGY CORP

COAL

FORMOSA HEAVY INDUSTRIES CORP

SEMIRARA CORP

TRUST INTERNATIONAL PAPER CORP

  • Latest
  • Trending
Latest
Latest
abtest
Are you sure you want to log out?
X
Login

Philstar.com is one of the most vibrant, opinionated, discerning communities of readers on cyberspace. With your meaningful insights, help shape the stories that can shape the country. Sign up now!

Get Updated:

Signup for the News Round now

FORGOT PASSWORD?
SIGN IN
or sign in with