DoE OKs permits for 13 power companies

The Department of Energy (DoE) has granted certificates of endorsement (COEs) to 13 companies, which can generate a combined 2,439 megawatts of power.

Data from the DoE showed that as of end-December 2011, it awarded the COEs—a requirement for the operation of proposed, existing or newly built power generation facilities—to Masinloc Power Partners Co. Ltd.; SMI Power Corp.; Sunwest Water and Electric Co.; King Energy Corp.; Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp.; Unisan Biomass Corp.; Udenna Corp.; Hacienda Bio-Energy; and Petron Corp.

Also granted COEs were Bicol Hydropower Corp.; San Ramon Power Inc.; Energy World Corp. Ltd.; and GNPower Mariveles Coal Plant Ltd. Co.

Securing a COE was crucial since it was a requirement for a company to be given a certificate of compliance (COC) for their power-generation facilities. Issued by the Energy Regulatory Commission, the COC in turn, would allow a power generation firm to either start or continue operating the facilities.

Valid for five years, a COC would ensure that a power plant will not compromise the health and safety of communities where it operates. It also assures the public that the owner of the power plant will strictly adhere with the cross-ownership and market share limitations stated in the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira) toward the prevention of market power abuse.

According to data from the DoE, the COE for GNPower was for a new 600-MW coal-fired facility in Mariveles, Bataan, while the certificate for Energy World was for a new 300-MW gas-turbine plant in Pagbilao, Quezon.

San Ramon Power’s COE was meant for a new 100-MW coal fired plant in Zamboanga City and Bicol Hydropower, for a 960-kilowatt hydro facility in Naga City.

Masinloc Power’s COE was meant for its existing 600-megawatt coal-fired plant in Zambales, while that of SMI Power was for a new 500-MW coal-fired power plant in Davao Del Sur.

King Energy needed the COE was also for a new 3.2-MW diesel facility in Bukidnon, which is expected to be commissioned later this month; Suweco, for its existing 1.5-MW and 2.1-MW hydropower facilities, both of which are located in Catanduanes; and Trans-Asia Oil, for its proposed 135-MW coal fired power plant in Calaca, Batangas.

Unisan Biomass, meanwhile, will need the COE for its 11.2-MW biomass facility in Quezon province. Power produced from the power plant, which was earlier estimated to cost around $36 million, will be provided for the requirements of Quezon Electric Cooperative.

Udenna, the holding company of Phoenix Petroleum Holdings Inc. and Udenna Management and Resources Corp., is currently managing the existing 116-MW diesel-fired power plant located at the Subic Gateway District within the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

DoE data further showed that the COE of Hacienda Bio-Energy will be used for its 125-kilowatt biomass facility in Bukidnon; and Petron, for its planned P10-billion 70-MW fuel-fired facility within the company’s refinery compound in Limay, Bataan.