Remember the misfortune of Marinduque when it comes to certain power contracts?
So convenient just to forget, eh?
But maybe this time, we'll be lucky?
Maybe this time they'll stay, not run away?
When all the odds are in our favor,
something's bound to begin
Maybe this time, maybe this time,
Maybe this time we'll win!
(with apologies to Liza Minelli)
DMCI Power Corp. continues to be on the lookout for more
power contracts in several islands in the country to improve its sales volume,
after it grew by a fourth to 308 gigawatt hours (GWh) in 2018.
The off-grid electricity supplier said it has recently won
the contract for a three-megawatt (MW) facility in Siargao, while also looking
to participate in the bidding process for projects in Marinduque, Occidental
Mindoro, and Ticao Island in Masbate this year.
DMCI Power President Nestor D.
Dadivas said they won the Siargao project at P83 million per year, on top of
variable costs. The company is now in the review process for the power supply
agreement.
“Siargao is connected to the grid, so it’s an easy contract
that can grow because we have big plans in Mindanao, we might need some
ancillary facilities,” Mr. Dadivas told reporters during a recent media
briefing.
The build-operate-transfer contract will last for 15 years,
after which the facility will be turned over to the government. DMCI Power
expects the facility to start running within the next four to six months.
Meanwhile, Mr. Dadivas said the local governments of
Marinduque and Occidental Mindoro might be sending out bids for private
electricity providers within the year. The Marinduque contract is seen to have
a capacity of 12 MW to 15 MW, while the Occidental Mindoro project will have a
total capacity of 22 MW.
“Right now they (Occidental Mindoro) have temporary
contracts for 20 MW, that will be bid out. Wala pang existing supplier. They
will still have to come up with their terms, so it depends on the technology,
size,” Mr. Dadivas explained.
Electricity in Ticao Island, which Mr. Dadivas described as
a tourism-oriented island, is currently being supplied by the National Power
Corp. DMCI Power said the state-run firm is now asking for interested private
providers in the area.
Source: Arra B. Francia/BusinessWorld
