COA approves sale of Iligan diesel power plant

MANILA, Philippines—The Commission on Audit has finally given its approval on the sale of the 100-megawatt Iligan diesel power plant to the Alcantara-led Alsons Consolidated Resources Inc., a much awaited move that is expected to help ease the power supply crunch in Mindanao.
In a briefing Friday, Energy Undersecretary Josefina Patricia M. Asirit said the COA decision issued early this month also outlined certain conditions that should be met to effect the acquisition of the diesel facility from the Iligan city government.
These conditions, Asirit explained, concerned a few turnover and ownership issues as well as transmission concerns. It is expected that Alsons Consolidated will be able to fully operate the facility in six months’ time or by April 2013, in time to address the expected 200-MW power supply shortage in Mindanao.
Asirit added that Alsons Consolidated can also start generating at least 20 MW in two months’ time, before ramping it up to generate at full capacity.