Palm Concepcion Power Corporation (PCPC) has begun the construction of the first phase of the 2 x 135-megawatt power plant project in Northern Iloilo.
PCPC is a joint venture of AC Energy Holdings, Inc., Palm Thermal Consolidated Holdings Corporation, a subsidiary of A. Brown Company, Inc., and Jin Navitas Resource, Inc. (JNRI).
Located in a 30-hectare property in Sitio Puntales, Bry. Nipa, Concepcion, Iloilo, the facility is expected to be operational by 2015.
The new clean coal power plant will help address the increasing power requirements of Iloilo, Aklan, Antique and Capiz in the island of Panay as well as neighboring provinces of Negros and Guimaras, considering the fast economic growth in the region.
“Visayas is in development mode and more investments are expected in the next 3 to 5 years. This will mean significant power requirements, especially in Western Visayas where power supply is limited,” said AC Energy president Eric Francia.
He added: “Palm Concepcion thermal power plant anticipates such need and is a project that is ready to be constructed. AC Energy was invited by project proponent A. Brown to partner with them and Jin Navitas to make this project a reality.”
The project, with an estimated cost of P12.5 billion, will use Circulating Fluidized Bed Combustion (CFBC) technology in generating thermal energy from coal. In this technology, limestone is used in the fluidized bed to minimize production of harmful chemicals to acceptable limits. It is also the only coal-fired power plant in Panay to use a reheat technology that requires less fuel to produce thermal power.
Local officials led by Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor, Sr., House of Representatives deputy speaker and member of the Joint Power Commission Cong. Erin Tañada, and Concepcion Mayor Millard Villanueva participated in the groundbreaking ceremony held on January 15.
Gov. Defensor in his message welcomed the construction of the new Concepcion plant and emphasized its importance in the anticipated growth and development in key areas of the province. Deputy Speaker Tañada mentioned the benefits to the people of Visayas who will experience not only a more stable power supply but also a more environment friendly source of power.