Davao City coal-fired plant to ease Mindanao power woes

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The power situation in Mindanao is expected to ease as the 300-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant being constructed here is nearing completion, the Therma South Inc., a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power Corp., said over the weekend. 

Therma South reported to the Department of Energy (DOE) in Mindanao that the 300-MW thermal plant, located at the boundary of Davao City and Sta. Cruz town in Davao del Sur, may start operating in the first half of 2015.

Therma South president Benjamin Cariaso Jr. said all components and equipment, as well as the switchyard that would connect the power plant to the transmission assets of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP), are almost complete. 

“We are looking forward to being able to make a significant contribution in alleviating the Mindanao power crisis,” Cariaso said. 

Meanwhile, at least 22 distribution utilities and electric cooperatives in Mindanao have signed contracts with Therma South for the power supply.

As of last month, the Energy Regulatory Commission has approved 13 of these contracts.

Customers with approved contracts can immediately get power from Therma South once the power plant is completed.

Therma South will supply power to the cities of Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato, Butuan, General Santos, Tagum and Kidapawan; the provinces of Agusan, Surigao, Misamis, Sarangani, North and South Cotabato and Zamboanga, and parts of Bukidnon and Davao region.