PNOC unit to push through with coal plant

PNOC Exploration Corp., the upstream petroleum and coal arm of state-owned Philippine National Oil Co., will push through with its coal-fired power plant project in Zamboanga Sibugay.

PNOC-EC announced that it was looking to hire consultants who will conduct a grid impact study (GIS) of the proposed 100-megawatt minemouth coal power facility.

The GIS will determine whether the additional capacity to be generated by the proposed power project can be absorbed by the grid or if existing transmission lines are capable of transmitting the electricity from the power plant to the substations.

Apart from a proposed facility in Malangas, Zamboanga Sibugay, PNOC-EC earlier announced that it also plans to put up another coal-fired power plant in Isabela that can generate either 50 MW or 100 MW.

Both projects, which will be built near the coal mines, are expected to bring widespread economic benefits to both provinces and also address the local energy demand requirements, without sacrificing stakeholder and environmental concerns.

Based on earlier estimates, the company expects to invest as much as P5 billion in the Isabela project alone.