(STA. CRUZ, Davao del Sur) President Benigno S. Aquino III inaugurated here Friday Aboitiz Power Corporation’s 300-megawatt (MW) base load power plant that aims to address Mindanao’s concerns for stable power supply.In his speech during the inauguration of the new coal plant, the President said the situation in Mindanao has made it obvious that the region needs more base load power.
He admitted that while he believes in developing renewable energy, the country at this point cannot wean itself completely from relying on coal-fired power plants to stabilize the supply of electricity.
However, he said, the ultimate goal is to achieve the right energy mix with no less than 30 percent of the country’s energy source derived from renewables.
“When this plant becomes fully operational, we can count on it to consistently produce 300 megawatts of base load power, which means that this capacity can be tapped into anytime, rain or shine, with very minor fluctuations,” he said in his speech.
“To emphasize just how significant this is, this plant’s dependable capacity is roughly equivalent to one-fifth of the Mindanao grid’s highest peak demand in 2015—and it is already delivering power to areas at the end of the grid, such as Sarangani, General Santos, and the Zamboanga peninsula.”
The President further said that apart from all the projects that have come to fruition during the current administration, the private sector has committed to undertake at least another 11 power projects in Mindanao that will come online between 2016 and 2020, which are envisioned to produce at least 675.30 MW, more than enough to cover the projected increase in demand for those years.
President Aquino thanked Aboitiz Power and Therma South Inc. “for being an early believer in the potential of Mindanao”.
Noting that he has less than six months in office, the Chief Executive vowed to fulfill his government’s promise to leave Mindanao in a better situation by maintaining its commitment to peace and by developing the region’s infrastructure to attain inclusive growth.
“If we continue working together—both public and private sector alike—we can truly give rise to a Mindanao that reaches its full potential, and prove, once more, that nothing is impossible to a united Filipino people,” he said.
The P35-billion power plant currently supplies base load power to more than 20 electric cooperatives and distribution utilities in Mindanao, providing electricity to the cities of Davao, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Zamboanga, Butuan, Kidapawan, Tagum, Koronadal, Digos, Pagadian and Cotabato.
It also supplies energy to the Davao region, the provinces of Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Agusan and Surigao; the Zamboanga Peninsula; and parts of Bukidnon and Misamis.
Aboitiz Power is the holding company of Aboitiz Group’s investment in power generation, distribution, retail and power services. PND (as) |