Davao coal-fired plant starts synchronization this April

DAVAO CITY- The 300 megawatt coal-fired thermal power plant will start to synchronize with the Mindanao Grid this coming Holy Week.

The plant operated by Therma South Incorporated, a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power, is expected to conduct its reliability run during the first week of April during which it will connect and supply power though in a smaller amount to the Mindanao Grid. This is the first step towards full commercial operations.

“We are happy to announce that our customers should be able to start receiving power from Therma South by April on a scaled basis as we continue our tests,” Therma South president and COO Benjamin A. Cariaso Jr., said.

Steam blowing operations for the first of the two 150-MW units was recently completed which allowed for the tests.

 Full commercial operations is expected to commence after the completion of reliability tests which are conducted with the coordination of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). 

 The plant is expected to bring additional power to the Mindanao Grid. More than 20 distribution utilities and electric cooperatives have signed up to receive capacity from Therma South. The power plant capacity has been “sold out” since 2014. 

“The timing could not have been better as the coming summer months are expected to affect the power output of Mindanao’s hydro power plants. Therma South will be able to assist our customers to cope with the demand for power,” Cariaso said.

Therma South customers include the DavaoLight and Power, Cagayan de Oro Electric Power Co. and Cotabato Light franchise areas. It will also serve electric cooperatives serving the cities of Gen. Santos, Butuan, Tagum, Kidapawan, Mati, Koronadal, Surigao and Digos, among others,

It will serve the Zamboanga provinces, Misamis, the whole of Agusan and Surigao provinces, the Davao region, North and South Cotabato and parts of Bukidnon and Misamis. (PIA/RG Alama)