Mindanao electric co-ops, AboitizPower seal deals

Six electric cooperatives in Mindanao have started their shift toward a more balanced mix of energy sources starting this year as it signed up for renewable energy supply with Aboitiz Power Corp.’s subsidiary, Hedcor.

Zamboanga del Sur Electric Cooperatives 1 and 2, Zamboanga del Norte Electric Cooperative, Bukidnon Second Electric Cooperative, Misamis Occidental I Electric Cooperative and Siargao Electric Cooperative have signed renewable energy supply contracts with Hedcor which is building the 68.8-megawatt Manolo Fortich hydro power project in Bukidnon.

The project is slated for completion this year.

“We are happy to have provided the electric cooperatives in Mindanao with the renewable energy option,” Hedcor vice president for Mindanao operations Rolando Pacquiao said in a statement. “By signing up with Hedcor, they are giving their member-consumers the benefits of renewable energy and of a balanced mix of energy sources.”

Hedcor has signed up a total of 23MW of power contracted by its existing customers. Out of this, Zaneco, which serves the area in and around Zamboanga del Norte and the cities of Dipolog and Dapitan, signed for a total of 10 MW.

Zamsureco 1 and Zamsureco 2 which services the rest of Zamboanga peninsula signed for 3 MW each.

Buseco, with franchise locations all over Bukidnon, signed for 5 MW, while Moelci 1, currently servicing certain municipalities in Misamis Occidental and Siarelco, covering nine towns in Siargao, each signed for 1 MW of power supply.

“We hope other electric cooperatives will take advantage of renewable energy to add to their portfolio and the benefits of a renewable energy supply contract,” Pacquiao said. —DAXIM L. LUCAS