Vivant Energy Corp., the energy unit of listed Vivant Corp., plans to complete 23-megawatt bunker power plant on Bantayan Island, Cebu by April next year to help boost economic activity in the area.
“We are really excited about the project because it’s in our backyard. It’s in Cebu. If we want to make a difference in the country, we also want to make a difference in Cebu,” said Vivant Energy chief operating officer Emil Garcia.
Vivant is controlled by the Garcia and Escano families who are based in Cebu.
“We are hoping to hit COD (commercial operations date) by April of 2021. That’s our target,” he said.
Garcia said the power plant aimed to address power demand in Bantayan Island, which is becoming a popular tourist destination.
“I was there last week. The beaches are beautiful and I think it’s going to be the next best thing,” Garcia said.
Vivant Integrated Diesel Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vivant Energy and Gigawatt Power Inc., won the bid to supply the 15-year power requirements of Bantayan Electric Cooperative last year.
The parties plans to submit a joint application of the power supply agreement to the Energy Regulatory Commission in March.
The contract involves the supply 15 MW of net dependable capacity that will serve the energy requirements of three municipalities in the island—Bantayan, Santa Fe, and Madridejos.
Bantayan Island’s popularity has grown given its pristine white sand beaches, resulting in the influx of tourists in the far-flung island.
This fueled an increase in establishments and spurred economic development in the island that led to higher electricity demand.
The energy requirements of Bantayan, an island in the northern end of Cebu, is being served by Bantayan Island Power Corp.
BIPCOR originally supplied base-load operation in 2006 while National Power Corp.’s -Small Power Utilities Group supplied the peak load requirements from 2006 to 2009.