Sunwest earmarks P800M for projects

Sunwest Water and Electric Co. Inc. (Suweco), led by Bicol-based businessman Elizaldy S. Co, is planning to spend about P800 million to put up four mini hydropower plants and a back-up bunker facility to serve the electricity requirements of Tablas Island in Romblon.

The plan came about after Suweco was declared the lowest bidder in the “competitive selection process for private sector participation in power generation” conducted late last month by the Tablas Island Electric Cooperative Inc. (Tielco). Suweco offered the lowest generation rate at P11.2295 per kilowatt-hour, besting the offers of the three other bidders.

“Suweco’s bid is a blended rate of bunker and mini-hydro for lower cost and increased power sustainability and reliability,” added Suweco president Jose Silvestre M. Natividad.

The bid of Suweco, although declared the lowest, has yet to undergo post-qualification evaluation.

According to Suweco, the company plans to construct four mini hydropower plants with a total capacity of 2.8-megawatts, to be backed up by a 7.5-MW state-of-the-art bunker fired power facility. These facilities are expected to help address the frequent power interruptions being experienced on the island, given the unreliable supply of power from the Small Power Utilities Group of National Power Corp. (Napocor-SPUG).

Suweco is expected to take over the power supply obligation on Tablas Island through a 15-year power supply deal with Tielco.

Tielco general manager Orville F. Ferranco said the power supply agreement covered the entire capacity requirement of the electric cooperative.