FOOD AND BEVERAGE GIANT SAN Miguel Corp. has expressed interest in bidding for the management of National Power Corp.’s independent power producer administrator contracts for three hydroelectric power plants, according to a source familiar with the matter.

The source did not identify which of the three IPPA contracts San Miguel was interested in. But under the current procedures of the state-owned Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM), a company is required to bid for all three contracts to qualify even if it was interested in only one or two.

Thus, bidders who will submit an offer for only one or any two of the contracted capacities will be disqualified.

PSALM is bidding out IPPA contracts for the 30-megawatt Benguet mini-hydro; 345-MW San Roque multipurpose hydroelectric power plant in Pangasinan and the 70-MW Bakun hydroelectric power plant in Ilocos Sur.

In a separate interview with reporters, PSALM acting vice president Conrad Tolentino said the bidding for the IPPA contracts has been moved to Dec. 11 from the original date of Nov. 11.

Tolentino explained that the nine prospective bidders had requested for an extension since their respective due-diligence activities in the hydropower facilities were delayed by the onslaught of the two recent typhoons.

Under the original bidding procedures, the due diligence can be held until two days before the Nov. 11 bid submission deadline.

Aside from San Miguel, Aboitiz Power Corp., Pacifica Inc. and Trans Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp. have likewise submitted their letters of interest to bid for the IPPA contracts.

Team Energy Philippines, meanwhile, earlier said it was interested in the contract for the San Roque hydroelectric power plant as this was deemed a good fit with the company’s coal power plant.

The bidding for the IPPAs of Benguet, San Roque and Bakun hydroelectric power plants formed the second batch of contracts offered to the private sector for management. IPPs are currently contracted to supply electricity to state-run Napocor.

When management of IPP contracts are turned over to the private sector, the winning bidders will manage the contracted capacities of the government in the IPP power plants.