Economic boom awaits Ozamiz with new 300-MW power plant

OZAMIZ CITY — A coal-fired power plant with a capacity of 300 megawatts (MW) will break ground in this city by the end of August that would stabilize the electricity needs of Misamis Occidental and contribute to the power reserves of the Mindanao grid.

Mayor Reynaldo O. Parojinog Sr. said the construction of the plant will be undertaken by electronics retail giant, Avesco, and will be operating out of Barangay Pulot, this city.

Avesco is a leading distributor of industrial, electrical, electronics and communications products in the country. This is Avesco's first power plant venture.

For this purpose, Avesco has created the Ozamiz Power Generation, Inc.

The coal-fired power plant will be developed in two phases – the first involving two units with 100MW capacity each and the second phase covering a single 100MW unit.

The first phase is targeted for completion in 2017 while the second phase will be implemented a year after.

When reports of a coal-fired power plant construction started spreading in 2014, local environmentalists tried to convince residents in Pulot and surrounding villages to express their opposition to the new energy venture.

But Parojinog said he has successfully convinced the people to throw their support behind the coal-fired power plant's construction since it will create jobs within the city and Misamis Occidental, as a whole. He also cited its future contribution to the Mindanao grid.

Parojinog said that, with the stabilization of power in Ozamiz and Misamis Occidental, economic development in the province will be sure to follow.

Currently, Northern Mindanao is contributing 1,172.60MW to the grid through the Agus hydro plant in Iligan City, Steag State Power's coal-fired plant in Misamis Oriental, a power barge in Butuan City, NMPC 1 and 2 in Iligan City, Agusan Hydro in Bukidnon, Bubunawan Hydro in Bukidnon, a solar plant in Cagayan de Oro and another plant from Minergy in Cagayan de Oro.

Southern Mindanao contributes 360MW, Western Mindanao 100MW and Central Mindanao 265MW. (Camcer Ordonez Imam)