DMCI plans power complex in Batangas

MANILA, Philippines - DMCI Power Corp., the power generation unit of the Consunji group, is contemplating the development of a 1,200-megawatt (MW) power complex in Calaca, Batangas.

Nestor Dadivas, DMCI Power president, said the Consunjis might be focusing on the construction of the first phase of the expansion project which is composed of two of the four 150 MW coal-fired facility.

“That’s our long-term goal (1,200 MW), we should probably just talk about 600 MW over five years,” he said.

He said they expect to complete the construction of the two 150 MW facility in Calaca within the next 32 to 36 months.

The development of the next phases, Dadivas said, would depend on the demand for power.

“In the long-term the Calaca area is good up to 1,200-MW. The area of Calaca is capable to accommodate up to an additional 1,200-MW power plant. And the way we see it is to do it in phases, because we don’t want our project to be in big chunks. It will be difficult to market 600 MW, while it’s easier to market a series of 150 MW or 300 MW,” he said.

The proposed 1,200-MW plant is on top of the existing 600-MW Calaca coal-fired facility that the company is operating right now.

Dadivas said they are now in the process of evaluating the EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) of a Chinese contractor and expect to award the EPC within the next two weeks.

The DMCI Power executive said they have decided to pursue Chinese technology for their proposed coal-fired power facility as they find it cheaper but efficient.

Dadivas also said this Chinese-made power plant could also utilize low-grade coal which is now being produced in Semirara Mining Corp., which has exclusive rights to explore, mine and develop the coal resources on Semirara Island in Caluya, Antique. Semirara currently supplies coal to the Calaca facility.

“It’s a clean CFB (Circulation Fluidized Bed Combustion) technology power plant that will use 100 percent Semirara coal both low grade and regular grade Semirara coal. The advantage is being able to use the low-grade,” he said.

According to Dadivas, they would also be able to finalize the financing for the project within the next 60 to 75 days.

He said they are also determining if they would use their newly-incorporated wholly-owned subsidiary of Semirara Mining Corp., Southwest Luzon Power Corp., to handle these new power plant projects.