Conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. plans to invest at least P30 billion to expand its power generation portfolio to 1,600 megawatts by 2022.
MPIC chairman Manuel Pangilinan said power unit Manila Electric Co. would add at least 1,600 MW of predominantly coal-fired generating capacity and participate in the retail electricity sales market to solidify its position as the country’s leading power company.
It is also exploring further opportunities in renewable energy, including solar, wind, run-of-river, hydro, biomass and battery storage.
Meralco’s MGen and partner New Growth B.V., a subsidiary of Thailand’s Electric Generating Company Ltd., are building a 455-MW coal-fired power plant in Mauban, Quezon. Construction is proceeding as scheduled with commercial operations due by middle of 2019.
Meralco is also building a 1,200-MW power plant in Atimonan, Quezon.
Meanwhile, Pangilinan said that units Meralco and MetroPac Water Investments Corp. would participate in the planned bidding for power and water utilities within New Clark City.
State-owned Bases Conversion Development Authority on Wednesday announced the tender process for the selection of joint venture partners to design, build, finance, operate and maintain power and water distribution in New Clark City, which is envisioned to be Asia’s premier economic hub.
“Meralco will participate in the bidding for the electric power distribution while MetroPac Water will also bid for for water and waste water project in New Clark City,” Pangilinan said.
BCDA plans to award the contracts for both projects by September 2018.
The 9,450-hectare New Clark City is envisioned to be the country’s first smart, disaster-resilient and sustainable city. The first phase of the development covering 60 hectares will feature the National Government Administrative Center that will house back-up offices of several state agencies and a world-class sports complex which being constructed in time for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
The new metropolis will have mixed-use of residential, commercial, agro-industrial, educational institutions and other information technology developments.