AC Energy’s Mindanao coal plant named project of national significance

MANILA, Philippines — The Mindanao coal-fired power plant owned by AC Energy Inc. has been named as among the country’s energy projects of national significance (EPNS).

The Energy Investment Coordinating Council (EICC), led by the Department of Energy (DOE), has endorsed the 4x138-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant in Lanao del Norte in Mindanao owned by GN Power Kauswagan Ltd. Co. (GNPK).

GNPK is  a limited partnership among AC Energy, the Philippine Investment Alliance for Infrastructure (PINAI) and Power Partners Ltd. Co.

Last March 13, the EICC issued certificates of energy project of national significance (CEPNS) for commerciality to  GNPK’s power plant.

DOE Assistant Secretary Redentor Delola earlier said unit 1 of the GNPK coal plant (138 MW) would start providing capacity to the Mindanao grid in May and unit 2 (138 MW) in July.

Last month, the project of GNPK’s affiliate GNPower Dinginin Coal Plant Ltd. Co. had also been included in the EPNS list.

GNPower Dinginin,  a limited partnership among AC Energy Inc., Aboitiz Power Corp. and Power Partners Ltd. Co., is set to complete the first unit of the 2x668-MW supercritical coal-fired power plant in Bataan within the year.

As one of the EPNS, the GNPK power plant will be entitled to all the rights and privileges under Executive Order (EO) 30.

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

Signed by President Duterte in June 2017, EO 30 provides that government agencies concerned with energy projects should presume other agencies were able to act upon and issue their respective permits within a 30-day period.

If not acted upon five days after the lapse of 30 days, these projects are deemed approved.

So far, the EICC issued 75 CEPNS out of the 334 applications, while 52 filings were notified of non-compliance as to form and/or documentary requirements.