Meralco Powergen plant gets DOE nod

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Energy (DOE) has endorsed Meralco Powergen Corp.’s 455-megawatt (MW) power plant in Mauban, Quezon for commercial operations to boost supply next month.

DOE Secretary Alfonso Cusi said he wrote a letter to the ERC, stressing the important role of the 455-MW San Buenaventura Power Limited Co. (SBPL) plant in its power development plan. 

The plant, he said, would provide more capacity during the shutdown of the Malampaya gas facility next month.

“I wrote ERC and I manifested to ERC the importance of it being online because that supply is necessary to augment the present supply of the country,” Cusi said.

Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) had sought the help of the DOE to get the SBPL project up and running soon.

Meralco president and CEO Ray Espinosa said the power plant was supposed to start commercial operations last Sept. 15 but the ERC has yet to issue the project’s certificate of compliance (COC).

The COC, which has a term of five years, is necessary before any generation company can commence commercial operations.

Espinosa said the ERC had raised issues on SBPL’s water rights, but the power generating company could use Meralco’s water rights issued by the National Water Regulatory Board (NWRB).

Meralco is projecting a reduction of about 600 to 900 MW of capacity in the Luzon power grid during the maintenance shutdown of the Malampaya gas field from Oct. 12 to 15.

The DOE earlier assured there would be enough supply during the Malampaya shutdown as preparations were done early and contingencies were put in place.