NorthWind keen on NL projects

MANILA, Philippines - Ayala-controlled NorthWind Power Development Corp. is eyeing to develop its projects in the northern Philippines, a company official said.

Niels Jacobsen, NorthWind chairman said the company is keen on developing its projects in Aparri, Cagayan and Pamplona, Cagayan Valley. These power projects have a potential to produce up to 80 megawatts of wind energy.

At the same time, Jacobsen said the company is waiting for the start of construction of the transmission line that will link the wind farms to the power grid.

“It’s all about the transmission line. It takes three years at least for the transmission. We will go ahead with the project when we actually see it (transmission),” Jacobsen said.

NorthWind’s subsidiaries are undertaking the new wind projects, particularly Northpoint Wind Power Corp. which will develop the $95-million 40 megawatt wind project in Aparri, Cagayan.

Similarly, NorthEast Wind Systems Corp. will construct the 40 MW wind farm in Pamplona, Cagayan Valley which is seen to be operational on or before 2015.

Approval for the projects are pending with the Energy Regulatory Commission, said Jacobsen, adding that the company is waiting for actual construction to start, particularly for the wind projects near Aparri and Pamplona area.

NorthWind earlier entered into service contracts with the Energy Department for the exploration and development of the two projects in Cagayan province.

Ayala entered Northwind Power in 2011 through its Michigan Power Inc., which acquired a 50 percent stake in NorthWind.

NorthWind is the company behind the 33 MW Bangui Bay wind project in Ilocos Norte, the largest wind farm in Southeast Asia, which sells electricity to the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative and provides 40 percent of the province.