EDC bags power supply deal with 3 Visayas co-ops

MANILA, Philippines - Lopez-owned Energy Development Corp. (EDC) has bagged a deal to supply clean and affordable power to Capiz, Iloilo and Aklan provinces over the next 12 years.

The power supply agreement was signed by EDC Subsidiary Green Core Geothermal Inc. (GCGI) with Iloilo Electric Cooperative (ILECO 1), Aklan Electric Cooperative (AKELCO) and Capiz Electric Cooperative (CAPELCO) guaranteeing long-term power supply for both residential and industrial customers of the three cooperatives.  

Based on the contracts, GCGI will supply AKELCO with 18 megawatts of electricity for 2010 and 10 MW from 2011 to 2020. AKELCO services 17 municipalities in Aklan and two municipalities in Antique.

ILECO 1, on the other hand, is assured of three MW from 2010 to 2012 and 18 MW from 2012-2022. ILECO 1’s franchise areas cover 15 municipalities.

CAPELCO, meanwhile, will get 12 MW over the next 10 years to energize 17 cities and municipalities in Capiz.

Power will come from the 112.5-MW Tongonan 1 in Leyte and 192.5-MW Palinpinon plants in Negros Oriental which GCGI acquired in a bidding last year.  

“We’re very happy with this deal primarily because of the low rates of geothermal compared with other sources. It’s good that we get 70 percent of our supply from GCGI’s geothermal plants and only 30 percent from more expensive sources. We are able to provide both our residential and industrial customers with clean, stable and affordable power,” CAPELCO general manager Edgar Diaz said. EDC president and COO Richard Tantoco, for his part, said the pricing of indigenous renewable energy resource such as geothermal is not only independent of any indexation to movements in global energy indices but is also zero VAT rated.  

ILECO 1 general manager Wilfred Billena, meanwhile, expressed confidence that the contracts “will also result in lower power rates for us in Iloilo,” while AKELCO general manager Chito Peralta likewise expressed satisfaction with the agreement.   

“Getting power has always been a challenge for us because as you know, Aklan is located at the tip of the grid. Now Green Core will be able to augment the power supply of the province and encourage more tourists to visit Boracay,” Peralta said.  

“We’re very glad to have ILECO 1, CAPELCO and AKELCO as partners in delivering clean energy to Iloilo and Aklan. EDC’s long-term contracts with them will support the growth needs of their respective provinces and customers with clean, reliable and affordable power. Since the industry is leaning more towards clean energy, EDC, with its 34-year head start in the geothermal business, is well positioned to address the supply shortage in the Visayas grid,” Tantoco said.