Aboitiz all set for construction of 300-MW coal-fired facility

MANILA, Philippines - Aboitiz Power Corp. (APC) is all set for the construction of its 300-megawatt (MW) coal-fired facility in Davao.

The P25-billion project recently received the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The ECC would ensure that the project, once constructed and operational, will not cause significant negative impact on the environment.

The document also certifies that the project’s Environmental Impact Study (EIS) and its operational and environmental protection plans received positive reviews from independent reviewers.

 “We are happy to receive the ECC and AboitizPower, true to its promise of building a clean, safe and efficient power plant, will ensure that the facility will meet Philippine environmental standards as required by the certificate,” Manuel M. Orig, APC first vice president for Mindanao Affairs.

 “APC has been in Mindanao for more than 50 years and we will continue to live up to our reputation of corporate responsibility by providing clean, reliable and affordable power with this project,” he added.

With Mindanao’s demand for energy constantly growing amid increasing population and rapid development in many towns and cities, the island’s power supply is at a precarious stage and is seen to run short in the next couple of years.

By 2014, government and independent think tank estimates showed Mindanao will be short by around 480 MW of power – enough to cut power supply entirely from the cities of Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Gen. Santos, Butuan and Zamboanga.

Mindanao’s heavy dependence on hydro power coming from the Agus-Pulangi complex also negatively affects the power situation during the summer months and long dry spells.