LISTED Aboitiz Power Corp. (AboitizPower) said its subsidiary Therma Mobile Inc. has acquired four units of the barge-mounted floating power plants moored at the Fishport Complex in Navotas City called the Navotas barges.  

AboitizPower said the four barges were purchased for P2.3 billion from Duracom Mobile Power Corp. and East Asia Diesel Power Corp. and are seen to help alleviate the electric-power shortfall in Luzon.

AboitizPower said the Navotas barges are bunker C-fired diesel plants designed for peak load application and will contribute to the region’s powersupply needs.

When fully operational, AboitizPower said the barges will have an aggregate deliverable generating capacity of 242 megawatt (MW).

AboitizPower noted that the units have not been operating for almost five years.

“We believe these assets have a strategic value for AboitizPower’s generation portfolio. The power barges’ mobility and quick-start capability help complete the balanced mix we are trying to create,” Erramon Aboitiz, AboitizPower president and chief executive, said.

A power barge is essentially a floating power plant that can be towed to and moored in different areas.

AboitizPower said transfers, however, require meticulous preparations and permits from various agencies and AboitizPower has no immediate plans to relocate the units. AboitizPower said its priority is to have the units rehabilitated so they are able to deliver prime output.

AboitizPower targets to complete the rehabilitation by December 2011 and for the barges to start generating power by the first half of 2012.

Therma Mobile will handle the operational needs of the Navotas barges and will be selling to the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market and offering ancillary services. --Paul  Isla