Consunji Group hitches on RE bandwagon

MANILA, Philippines - The Consunji Group is hitching on the renewable energy (RE) bandwagon as it sees an opportunity to generate nearly 100 megawatts (MW) from run-of-river power plants in Mindanao’s off-grid areas.

The group is initially looking at mini-hydropower opportunities in Cagayan de Oro (CDO) and Sultan Kudarat, DMCI Holdings Inc. president and chief executive officer Isidro Consunji told reporters yesterday.

“These are just run-of-river [hydroelectric power prospects] in Cagayan de Oro and Sultan Kudarat,” he said.

These prospects, which are still in feability study phase, could have a capacity of nearly 100 MW, DMCI Power Corp. president Nestor Dadivas said.

“We’re looking at one 9-MW run-of-river in Cagayan de Oro but we really need to establish the hydrological data... We want to hire experts to really go deeper into study,” Dadivas said.

DMCI Power is eyeing to invest in the CDO project, which is owned by local player Turbines Development Resources Corp. led by Fr. Emeterio J. Barcelon.

In Sultan Kudarat, Dadivas said there are three to four projects with a combined capacity of 90 MW within the group’s logging concession.

“We have initial data on this. This one we’re in control because it’s ours,” he said.

Dadivas justified the move to go into hydropower to higher capacity factor and the civil works that can be done by the construction business of the group.

“We want to do hydro because it has bigger capacity factor, there’s no fuel and civil work can be passed on to DM Construction Inc.,” he said.

The Consunji Group has coal-fired power plants under Semirara and diesel-fired and bunker-fired power plants in missionary areas under DMCI Power.

During Semirara’s recent stockholders’ meeting, its president and COO Victor Consunji said the group is looking to invest in RE projects but not in the near term.

“We’re looking at it but it’s very infant... But we have to go to RE, there’s no other (way),” he said.