Completion of 600-Megawatt Subic Bay Plant Crucial for Philippine Power Security

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Written by Richard Finlayson, Senior International Editor for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The proposed 600-megawatt, coal-fired power plant project sited at Subic Bay in the Philippines continues to run into strong headwinds from environmental groups. The Philippine Court of Appeals recently confirmed an earlier ruling invalidating the environmental compliance certificate issued by the country's Department of Environment and Natural Resources to RP Energy for the plant to be built inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

But the Department of Energy is pressing for the project to remain on schedule, as the country could experience power shortages if the plant does not begin operations by 2015 or early 2016. The project will be built in two phases with a total investment of $1 billion. It is possible that Phase I will only become operational in 2017, followed by Phase II in 2018. The power project has the support of President Aquino.

The plant is being built by the RP consortium, which includes Manila Electric Company (PSX:MER) (Meralco) (Pasig City, Philippines), Power Generation Corporation (Manila), Aboitiz Power Corporation (PSX:AP) (Manila) and Taiwan Cogeneration International Corporation (Taipei).

For related information, see March 12, 2013, article - Meralco Champions Smart Grid as Philippines Targets 11,400 Megawatts in Additional Power.

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