Meralco unit, ESB ink deal on Atimonan plant

MANILA Electric Co.’ s ( Meralco) power generation unit has partnered with Irish state- owned energy consulting firm ESB International ( ESBI) for the operation and maintenance ( O& M) of a coal- fired power plant in Atimonan, Quezon, a top official said.

Meralco PowerGen Corp. President Rogelio Singson told reporters on Friday the company signed a 10- year engagement agreement with ESBI, which he described as the Napocor ( National Power Corp.) of Ireland, for the O& M of the 2 x 600- megawatt ( MW) coal- fired facility of Atimonan One Energy, Inc. ( A1E).

“Now, the agreement with them is we are going to finalize an agreement for them to operate the Atimonan plant once we get all of these approvals, with an understanding that it is a 10- year engagement so that we can, after 10 years, run the plant ourselves,” Singson explained.

The Energy Regulatory Commission ( ERC) has yet to decide on Meralco’s applications for seven power supply agreements ( PSAs) with several entities, including one with A1E. The ERC had earlier vowed to issue a resolution on the Meralco PSAs within the year.

Singson said Meralco PowerGen needs “senior people who have overseas experience” to work with them in managing the Atimonan coal plant.

He is appealing to all overseas Filipino workers ( OFWs) in the industry who want to work in the Philippines to run their power facilities. He noted that a lot of Filipinos who are working abroad want to return to the country but have no certainty if there are available jobs once they go back home.

The Meralco PowerGen official said they seek to hire about 4,000 people during the construction phase of the aforementioned coal plant, while they need “maybe close to 200” workers during regular operations.

ESBI is wholly owned by the Republic of Ireland’s Electricity Supply Board. The company has completed projects in more than 120 countries around the world and has been serving the international power sector since its inception in 1975.

Meralco PowerGen is a wholly- owned subsidiary of Meralco engaged in the power generation business.

Shares of Meralco closed up P0.60 P325 apiece on Friday. at