SMC to run Bataan power plant during Malampaya shutdown

MANILA, Philippines – SMC Global Power Holdings Corp., the power generation arm of San Miguel Corp., will run the first two of its 4x150-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant in Bataan during the Malampaya shutdown to augment power supply in the Luzon grid.

The first 150-MW unit will run on diesel as it currently undergoes commissioning and testing, SMC chairman Ramon Ang said in an interview with reporters late Wednesday.

“Right now, Unit 1 is operating on diesel. It will be able to help during the Malampaya shutdown this February. It has a capacity of 150 MW but the cost is higher since fuel being used (in commissioning) is diesel,” Ang said.

This is in response to Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi’s call to fast-track the operations of the power plant.

“With the 150 MW (capacity) from Line 1 using diesel fuel, we will help the grid as requested by Secretary Cusi to make sure there will be no power shortage,” the SMC chief said.

The first unit of the 4x150-MW Limay circulating fluidized bed (CFB) coal power plant is scheduled to start commercial operations in May and the second unit in August.

SMC Global has already applied for a certificate of compliance to start commercially operating the first two units of the Limay power plant, Ang said.

The SMC chief, however, admitted the plants’ commercial operations have been deferred from their original schedule.

SMC Global started construction of the Limay power plant in January 2014.

Based on data from the Department of Energy (DOE), the first 150-MW unit of the Limay power plant was supposed to start testing and commissioning in August 2016 and start operating in November the same year.

For the second unit, commissioning was targeted to start in April and operations would start July this year.