Meralco bags deal to build 600-MW gas plant in Singapore
FILE PHOTO: Meralco logo. INQUIRER / Edwin Bacasmas
MANILA, Philippines — PacificLight Power Pte Ltd., a subsidiary of Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen), won the contract to develop a new 600-megawatt (MW) gas-fired facility in Singapore, helping to solidify its position in that market.
The group said the project would be the biggest hydrogen-ready combined cycle gas turbine facility on Jurong Island, a part of Singapore that is dedicated to the chemical and energy sector.
The contract win is also seen to boost PacificLight Power’s (PLP) capacity, which currently stands at 830 MW, with an additional 100 MW expected to come online within the first half of this year.
READ: MGen unit eyeing to build another plant in Singapore
“PLP’s continuing strong performance in a very competitive power market has enabled us to move forward with this industry-leading project to bring additional clean power to Singapore,” Manila Electric Co. chair and chief executive officer Manuel V. Pangilinan said in a disclosure on Monday.
Article continues after this advertisement“PLP’s ability to take on a meaningful project such as this cements its place among MGen’s core holdings,” Pangilinan said.
Article continues after this advertisementOnce activated in early 2029 based on plans, the company said the facility can produce electricity using at least 30 percent hydrogen, which PLP said can go up to 100 percent.
The company would also invest in a battery energy storage system to support the plant’s operations.
Trailblazing
“As we advance with this investment, we are not only addressing Singapore’s growing energy needs but also setting a new standard for integrating efficiency and environmental responsibility in power generation,” MGen president and CEO Emmanuel Rubio said.
In November, Yari Miralao, president and chief executive officer of MGen Gas Energy Holdings, Inc., first announced that the group was ready to shell out $900 million to fund the gas plant.
Singapore’s Energy Market Authority has been conducting bidding for the construction of new gas facilities, with higher electricity demand seen amid the growth of the country’s advanced manufacturing, digital economy and transport sectors.
PLP is a joint venture between Meralco PowerGen Corp. and First Pacific Co., with MGen holding a 58-percent stake.
Since its establishment in 2014, PLP has been producing nearly 10 percent of Singapore’s electricity needs.
