Palm Concepcion continues to supply power in Visayas

MANILA, Philippines — Palm Concepcion Power Corp. (PCPC) said it continues to supply power in Visayas despite strict lockdown procedures at its power plant.

In a newsletter, PCPC said it has implemented guidelines and preventive measures in the power plant and its managing office in Manila since the threat of COVID-19 came about.

The company set up a skeleton force for both the power plant operations and maintenance and key support groups to assure everyone of uninterrupted service.

“Our regular operating hours at our plant site and working hours in our Manila office will remain as we ensure our commitment to provide sufficient power supply to the communities we serve,” PCPC president and CEO Nicandro Fucoy said in his letter to PCPC partners and stakeholders.

PCPC has also decided to implement a complete lockdown of the entire power plant facility to ensure that the power plant’s operation will not be affected by the continuous threat of COVID-19.

The lockdown, which started on March 23, will last for at least 30 days depending on the COVID-19 situation and cases in the province of Iloilo.

PCPC said only selected PCPC personnel would be staying full time inside the plant and wouldn’t be allowed to go outside during the entire period.

As early as February, PCPC has suspended the return of Chinese personnel from the operations and maintenance group, who were then in China to celebrate Chinese New Year with their families.

PCPC, a joint venture between Palm Thermal Consolidated Holdings Corp. and Jin Navitas Resource Inc. (JNRI), is the project company for the 2x135-MW coal-fired power plant project in Concepcion, Iloilo.

So far, it has put up a 135-MW coal plant which started commercial operations on Aug. 16, 2016.