Sarangani Energy Corp. said Monday the first 105-megawatt unit of its 210-MW baseload coal-fired power plant in Maasim, Sarangani successfully completed key tests ahead of commercial operations this month.
Sarangani Energy owned by Alsons Power of the Alcantara Group said in a statement the power plant’s commercial operations would immediately provide power to Mindanao reeling from another summer of power shortages.
The company is now awaiting the issuance of a certificate of compliance from the Energy Regulatory Commission.
The power plant will supply power to more than three million residents in the provinces of Sarangani, Compostela Valley, Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur; the cities of General Santos, Iligan, Bayugan, Butuan, Samal and Tagum and the municipalities in Davao del Norte and South Cotabato.
“Once we commence commercial operations, SEC 1 will be able to bring in 105 MW of power to key areas in Mindanao that will help put an end to the six-year-old power shortage and provide substantial relief to the people who have been suffering from this dire situation,” said Nicandro Fucoy, Alsons Power vice president for project implementation and head of coal operations.
“We are confident that the ERC will be able to issue the COC at the soonest time possible as we have already completed all the requirements. Any delay in the start of commercial operations would be a gross disservice to the people who have long been waiting for an end to the power crisis,” he said.
The entire 210-MW capacity is expected to be completed by 2018 and will supply power to other areas including South Cotabato and the provinces of Davao del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur, Misamis Oriental, North Cotabato, Cagayan de Oro, Dapitan, Digos, Dipolog, Koronadal, Kidapawan and Pagadian.
The $570-million Sarangani power plant is the single largest investment in Sarangani province and the entire Region 12.
Alsons Power is also developing the 105-MW San Ramon Power Inc. coal-fired power plant in Zamboanga City, with construction slated to commence in the second half and commercial operations expected by 2019.
The group is also entering the renewable energy segment with the development of a 15-MW run-of-river hydroelectric power plant at the Siguil River in Maasim, Sarangani.
Alsons Power currently operates three diesel plants in Mindanao, including Mapalad Power Corp.’s 103-MW plant in Iligan City, the 55-MW Southern Philippines Power Corp. facility in Alabel, Sarangani and the 100-MW power plant of the Western Mindanao Power Corp. in Zamboanga City.
The Alsons Power Group is expected to generate 588 MW by 2019, representing more than 25 percent of Mindanao’s projected peak power demand.
