GN Power gets ERC OK for Bataan power plant

MANILA, Philippines — The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has cleared GN Power Dinginin Ltd. Co. (GNPD) to operate and contribute an additional 668 megawatts (MW) supply to the power grid from the first unit of its coal-fired power plant in Bataan.

In a statement yesterday, the ERC said it issued a certificate of compliance (COC) for GNPD’s 724.965-MW Coal Plant – Unit 1 located in Mariveles, Bataan.

GNPD’s Unit 2  is  undergoing construction and has yet to complete test and commissioning.

“With the issuance of a COC to GNPD, it can now commercially operate and inject power to the Luzon grid that will provide the much-needed additional power supply to meet the increasing demand for power this holiday season and up to the election period,” ERC chairperson and CEO Agnes Devanadera said.

GNPD’s generation facility is composed of two 668-MW net supercritical coal-fired power plant and its associated facilities are connected to the Luzon grid via an interim connection to the Mariveles substation.

The final connection of the generation assets will be connected to the New Mariveles  500-kilovolt (kV) switching station of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).

GNPD, in consultation and coordination with NGCP and the Department of Energy (DOE), commenced the internal test for Unit 1 on Nov. 30 in view of the current demand and supply situation, and to support the grid during the Malampaya’s outage.

The COC  is valid for a period of five years, which may be revoked or suspended by the ERC at any time should the NGCP determine that the continued injection of the 668-MW by GNPD shall imperil the safety and security of the grid.

“The grant of COC to GNPower Dinginin will augment the country’s generation capacity and a proactive effort by the Commission, particularly in cases where power demand outweighs supply. ERC sees to it that COC applications are approved as soon as all legal, technical and financial requirements have been satisfied in order to ensure that supply matches the demand and to promote a sustainable power supply,” Devandera said.