Government eyes 200-MW LNG plant for power reserve

MANILA, Philippines – Government is eyeing to build a 200-megawatt (MW) liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant to provide an emergency source of power when the Luzon grid loses supply due to plant outages, Department of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.

The DOE is currently studying to jumpstart a 200-MW LNG plant as “army reserve” to intervene when the Luzon grid has insufficient power supply, he said during a Senate hearing on the power situation yesterday.

“It would be a new power plant. I just ordered the study to begin the other week. So, I still have to see the program,” Cusi said.

He said an LNG plant is faster to build and a cleaner source of power than a coal facility, the energy official said.

The study will be conducted by the Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC), the DOE’s corporate arm.

Cusi said PNOC is looking at its Batangas property for the LNG power plant, which will complement incoming plants from the private sector.

He said among the upcoming power projects include the 400-MW LNG plant of Energy World Corp. (EWC) in Pagbilao, Quezon; the 414-MW San Gabriel and 97-MW Avion natural gas-fired power plants of First Gen Corp., both in Batangas.

“I just want to be comfortable that we have enough reserves,” Cusi said.