GBPC to bid for Caliraya-Botocan-Kalayaan project

MANILA, Philippines -  Global Business Power Corp. (GBPC) is keen on joining the bid for the 728-megawatt (MW) Caliraya-Botocan-Kalayaan (CBK) hydropower plant in Laguna, one of the hydropower projects offered by the government.

“If there will be an auction which we think will be critical, it’s CBK,” said GBPC president Jaime Azurin.

The company is interested in the government facility because it will complement its current roster of baseload power plants.

“Because during the off-peak, you pump water. During peak, you unload water in the upper reservoir. Majority of generators, they need those off-peak power,” Azurin said.

The CBK hydro facility consists of the 22.6-MW Caliraya plant in Lumban, 20.8-MW Botocan plant in Majayjay and the 684.6-MW Kalayaan I and II in Kalayaan facilities, Laguna.

The power facility is being operated by CBK Power Co. Ltd. — the tandem of J-Power and Sumitomo Corp. of Japan — whose IPP contract runs until Feb. 7, 2026.

Currently a major power player in Visayas, GBPC is expanding in Luzon and Mindanao through traditional power projects and renewables as it aims to double its capacity to around 1,500 to 2,000 MW in five years.

It wants to expand operations in other grids as its market share in Visayas is already at 29 percent, close to the market share limitations (MSL) of 30 percent for generation companies set by the power regulator. At present, GBPC’s total capacity is 845 MW.

The company has formed Global Luzon Energy Development Corp. to work on a 670-MW super critical coal fired plant in Luna, La Union and Mindanao Energy Development Corp. to scout for projects in the region.