DOE endorses more projects as EPNS

MANILA, Philippines — The Energy Investment Coordinating Council (EICC), led by the Department of Energy (DOE), has already endorsed a total of 74 energy projects of national significance (EPNS).

These include the 2x668 megawatt supercritical clean coal-fired power plant of GNPower Dinginin Coal Plant Ltd., a partnership among AC Energy Inc., Aboitiz Power Corp. and Power Partners Ltd. Co.  The facility is located in Bataan.

EICC lumped in one CEPNS the commerciality phase for 29 transmission developments of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines.

NGCP’s Bataan 230 kV Grid Reinforcement, Western 500 kV Backbone (Stage 1) and the Batangas-Mindoro Interconnection were also endorsed as EPNS.

“This is a welcome development for NGCP and we thank the government for its recognition of the importance of these projects and we are confident of their continued support,” NGCP spokersperson Cynthia Alabanza said.

Meanwhile, the EICC issued two CEPNS for commerciality to two sets of projects of the National Power Corp. (Napocor).

The EICC issued 74 CEPNS out of the 334 applications, while it rejected seven filings. The council is now evaluating 253 projects.

All the endorsed power projects will be entitled to all the rights and privileges under Executive Order 30.

The CEPNS is intended to establish a simplified approval process and harmonize the relevant rules and regulations of all government agencies involved in the permitting process.

To qualify under EO 30,  power generation and transmission projects are required to have a capital cost of P3.5 billion, significant contribution to the country’s economic development and significant consequential economic impact, among others.