150-MW DMCI plant set to start operations

The Consunji Group is all set to have its first 150-megawatt coal-fired power plant expansion in Batangas online this summer.

“It will be synchronized to the grid by end of April,” DMCI Power Corp. chair Isidro A. Consunji told reporters.

Hopefully, by then, the plant will be able to help ease the tight power supply situation in Luzon, he said.

Another 150-MW unit is expected to be online after two months, he said.

The Department of Energy (DOE) earlier said the Consunji group had planned to turn on its new plants on April 1, 2015 (150 MW) and July 1, 2015 (150 MW).

Southwest Luzon Power Generation Corp. (SLPGC) is the project company in charge of the expansion of the 600-MW Calaca coal-fired power plant in Batangas, to bring its total capacity to 1,250 MW.

The Consunji group established SLPGC to capitalize on the synergies between Semirara Mining Corp’s coal mining business and the operation of its sister company, SEMCalaca Power Corp.

SLPGC was assigned to operate the expansion project, called the 600-MW Batangas coal-fired (Circulating Fluidized Bed) thermal power plant.

The first phase is made up of two 150-MW units, the first of which will be online by end-April this year as Consunji had said.

The first phase of the expansion involves the construction of two units of a 150-MW circulating bed power plant for a total of 300 MW while the second phase involves a single unit with a capacity of 350 MW.

Originally, the first 150-MW unit expansion was set for end-2014 opening but the company ran into roadblocks.

The target date was moved to March 2015 and then again to June 2015.

Luzon needs the additional resource as it is in a tight power supply situation.

President Aquino had asked Congress for special powers to tap additional capacity for the summer but lawmakers failed to resolve their differences before taking their summer break yesterday.