In Iloilo P12.5B coal-fired power plant to be constructed

CONCEPCION, ILOILO, Philippines – Iloilo province, and maybe the entire Western Visayas, would soon experience a stable power supply, as the P12.5 billion coal-fired power plant will be constructed in a 30-hectare property at Barangay Nipa in this town.

A groundbreaking ceremony, for the plant construction, was held last Tuesday with Governor Arthur Defensor Sr leading the rites, attended by top officials of the power companies undertaking the project.

Deputy House Speaker Erin Tañada and Mayor Milliard Villanueva also led local officials during the event.

With a capacity of 2x135MW base load, the power plant will be constructed by the Palm Concepcion Power Corporation (PCPC) in a joint venture with Palm Thermal Consolidated Holdings Corporation (A. Brown Company Inc.), AC Energy Holdings, Corp. (Ayala Corporation) and Jin Navitas Resources, Inc.

Defensor said the construction of the power plant will address the problem on power shortage that have been causing frequent brownouts. This will be the key to real development because there is no community progress if without sufficient electric power, he said.

Roel Castro, PCPC president and CEO, said the power plant to be constructed will be the first state-of-the-art clean-coal power plant since it will be using the circulating fluidized bed combustion (CFBC) technology.

It can also be considered the most advanced and most fuel-efficient plant in the Visayas since it will be using the latest Alstom Technology (European technology) for its steam turbine and generator, he said.

Castro added that the project will benefit the people in the project area through direct and indirect taxes. It will bring employment to some 1,500 people in the community during the construction period and a little less during the operation as well as will bring subsidy to the local government unit, he said.

Walter Brown, chairman of PCPC, said they are working for the economic benefits of all the people in the community, and will make sure that the environment will be protected.

The project will take approximately 30 months from pre-construction phase and is expected to be completed in 2015. (FREEMAN)