THE $280-million (P13.98-billion) coal plant of Palm Concepcion Power Corp. (PCPC) was inaugurated on Monday, boosting power supply in the Visayas.
The 135-megawatt (MW) Circulating Fluidized Bed Combustion is located in Concepcion, Iloilo. It has been commercially operated since August this year, but was only inagurated on Monday by President Duterte.
PCPC President and CEO Roel Castro, in his welcome message, said the new plant is a combination of technology from Europe and the engineering, procurement and construction contractor from China. “We are among the few to have used this technology with reheat and, as a consequence, we are one of the most fuel-efficient plants operating and, at the same time, compliant with the environmental criteria set by both national and international agencies,“ Castro said. “As a result of using the latest and most efficient technologies, we have one of the lowest tariffs in this same class of plants consumers are able to enjoy.”
The construction and commissioning of the power plant, including the transmission facilities, were completed within 37 months.
Aside from the plant’s contribution in increasing the available power-generation capacity in the Visayas, the community and local government unit hosting the power plant likewise, benefited in the various CSR projects that PCPC poured in for the development of the people and communities and in protecting the environment.
The company invested more than P150 million, even before the company sold its first kilowatt, for projects like concrete roads, scholarships, livelihood projects, capability-building of the local leaders and residents, disaster preparedness and, more important, massive reforestation and mangrove development.
Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said the power plant will help speed up economic activities in this side of the country. “The inauguration of this 135-MW Concepcion power plant is a crucial energy-infrastructure project to help sustain the economic growth in the Visayas and we expect to have a livelier business environment in the region,” he said.
While the power plant is fueled by imported coal, the company uses circulating fluidized-bed combustion the latest in clean coal technology. It is also equipped with an electrostatic precipitator, a filtration device that removes over 99 percent of ash particles.
At present, the power plant is delivering power-generation supply to its customers in Panay, Negros, and the rest of the Visayas. The PCPC is a joint venture between Palm Thermal Consolidated Holdings Corp., a subsidiary of A Brown Co. Inc. and Jin Navitas Resource Inc.