JPower to help PNOC-EDC implement its $56-M wind farm project in Ilocos

The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) has commissioned J Power (Electric Power Development Co. Ltd.) to assist state-owned PNOC-Energy of its Northern Luzon Wind Power Project (NLWPP).

Based on the contract, J Power will review the prequalification documents and evaluation criteria; assist during bid process; assist in review and award of bids for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of the 42-megawatt wind farm and the procurement and construction (PC) of the 230-kilovolt (KV) transmission line from the project site in Burgos, Ilocos Norte to Laoag City.

PNOC-EDC chairman and president Sergio Apostol said the partnership with J Power "is a step in the right direction towards the realization of a first commercial wind farm in the country and in Southeast Asia."

"This wind farm project is an entirely new energy venture in the Philippines," Apostol said. "As such, we need not only technical proficiency but also administrative assistance from those with established wind power expertise to keep this project on track."

The total project cost for the project is estimated at $56 million. The Japanese government, through JBIC has pledged a soft loan under the 4th Special Yen Loan Scheme to finance the project.

Apostol is optimistic that the NLWPP will go on stream in mid-2005. "This wind farm will be EDC’s contribution to government’s efforts of introducing clean and renewable energy in the national electric grid. This is all about preserving the environment because wind provides clean, reliable and abundant source of power," he said.

In a related development, bidding for the technical consultancy services contract has attracted three firms, namely: West Japan Engineering Consultants, Tokyo Electric Power Services Co. and Pacific Consultants Inc.

The contract involves design review, construction, supervision testing an commissioning, and operation maintenance assistance of the wind farm. The results of the technical evaluation of the bids are already with the contracts awards committee of EDC and will be submitted to JBIC soon.