Alcantara Group to build 105-MW plant in Zambo City

DAVAO CITY — Mindanao-based Alcantara Group of Companies will pour in P15.3 billion for the construction of a 105-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Talisayan, Zamboanga City in 2020.

Alcantara Group of Companies president Nicasio I. Alacantara told reporters Friday that, while the project will be the firm’s third coal plant in Mindanao, it will be under its new wholly owned subsidiary San Ramon Power, Inc. (SRPI).

He said the second of the two-phase 210 MW coal project of Sarangani Energy Corporation (SEC) in Maasim, Sarangani is set for completion in January 2018 and will cater to areas in Southern and South Central Mindanao.

He added that they were aggressively building more power capacities in Mindanao because of the growing demand of “growth centers” such as the cities of Davao, Illigan, Sarangani, and Zamboanga.

Aside from power, the Alcantara has interests in power generation, agribusiness, forestry, and real estate development.

Of Mindanao’s total installed capacity of 3,162 megawatts, the contribution of non-renewable energy is 1,898 MW (1,070 MW coal and 828 MW diesel), which accounts for 60 percent of the energy mix. Renewable sources, meanwhile, account for only about 40 percent with a contribution of 1,264 MW (108 MW geothermal, 1,061 MW hydro, 36 MW biomass, and 59 MW solar).