Trans-Asia to resume power plant operations

Phinma-led Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp. is expecting to soon resume commercial operations of its 21-megawatt bunker fuel-fired power plant at its new location in La Union, according to a top company official.

Trans-Asia Oil president Francisco Viray said on Wednesday the firm was expecting to finally complete before the end of the year the transfer of the facility, currently being managed by the firm’s wholly owned subsidiary, CIP II Power Corp.

CIP II’s power plant was earlier targeted to start operating in January 2012. The schedule was, however, moved twice due mainly to weather conditions, a source privy to the matter earlier said.

The groundbreaking was held in April last year and by July 2011, all major equipment and structures had been transferred from Laguna to its new site in Bacnotan, La Union. Construction and installation works are still ongoing.

Once operational, CIP II Power’s facility is expected operate as a merchant plant that will not only sell power to the wholesale electricity spot market (WESM), but will also supply emergency power to cement firm Holcim. This power plant will likewise serve the power requirements of Quezon II and Sorsogon I electric cooperatives.