EDC building dedicated transmission for Bac-Man

MANILA, Philippines - Lopez-led Energy Development Corp. (EDC) is constructing a P130-million dedicated transmission facility for its P7.6-billion 31-megawatt (MW) Bac-Man 3 geothermal plant to ensure that the project will deliver its capacity to the Luzon grid on time.

The project, located in Sorsogon province, has already been approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission.

EDC sought clearance from the power regulator to build a connection asset with a total project cost of P130 million “to cater the direct delivery of the full 31 MW capacity of the Bac-Man 3 geothermal project to the Luzon grid.”

“The interconnection of this plant to the Palayang Bayan Switchyard owned by Bac-Man Geothermal Inc. (BGI) is essential for the plant’s testing and commissioning targeted to start by the fourth quarter of 2017, and dispatch by December 2017,” EDC said.

In approving the company’s request, ERC ordered EDC to transfer the operation control of the Palayang Bayan Switchyard from BGI to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines.

The power regulator also directed EDC to construct the transmission link in accordance with the System Impact Study and Facility Study requirements.

Once completed, Bac-Man 3 will augment the power generating capacity of the Luzon grid and address the projected demand growth in the region, EDC business development VP Vincent Villegas earlier said.

The company has tapped Hyundai Engineering Co. Ltd. for the design and equipment supply contract, and Galing Power & Energy Construction Co. Inc. construction services contract.

Bac-Man 3 will add to EDC’s geothermal portfolio, solidifying its leadership in the Philippine geothermal industry, which currently owns and operates 1,169 MW of integrated geothermal projects in Leyte, Negros Islands, Bicol and North Cotabato.

It is also into wind technology through its 150-MW Burgos wind project, the largest in Southeast Asia. It also operates hydropower and solar energy plants.