Kepco Philippines Corp. plans to build a 1,000-megawatt advanced ultra supercritical pulverized coal technology in Barangays Baquioen and Pangascasan in Sual, Pangasinan, documents showed.
Kephilco said in a submission to the Environment Management Bureau under its notice for public scoping that the project would address the need for additional capacity amid a growing economy.
“Currently, the municipality of Sual hosts the largest operating coal-fired power plant in the country. The said power plant was built last 1996 and is expected reach end-of-life by year 2024. On the other hand, the Department of Energy recognizes the rapid growing demand for power in the country,” Kephilco said.
It said the proposed project would ensure the reliable delivery of electricity supply in Luzon by 2020 and beyond and would be a key infrastructure in sustaining the development of the country which achieved remarkable growth compared to neighboring countries.
“Moreover, inasmuch as coal is still the cheapest source of power generation, the project will help in at least maintaining the current price levels of electricity which is the second highest in Asia,” it said.
The proposed project aims to bring progress to Sual town as it would generate more taxes prioritize the employment of local residents.
The company said the proposed project would provide cheaper and more reliable electricity to meet future demands while economic and socially-uplifting program would be implemented.
The originally-planned power plant proposal involved a 3×300 circulating fluidized bed coal power plant at the same site with TansAsia Oil and Energy Development Corp., now Phinma Energy, as the original proponent.
Trans-Asia and Kepco signed a memorandum of agreement, turning over the project to the latter.
The Energy Department already allowed Kephilco to conduct a grid impact study for the said power plant to determine the project’s impact to the Luzon grid.
Kepco Philippines, controlled by parent Korea Electric Power Corp., is one of the country’s aggressive and long-term power players.