A. Brown pursues 4 Mindanao power projects

Publicly-listed A. Brown Company Inc. (ABCI) is working on four power projects in Mindanao to meet the region’s power requirements in the next few years.

In a report, ABCI said its affiliate Peakpower Energy Inc. (PEI) is constructing a new diesel-fired power plant and expansion projects of two existing bunker-fired power plants.

“Preparations are underway for the expansion of the two plants, including contracting and equipment procurement,” it said. “The necessary planning stages and studies are also being undertaken for a third plant, a 2 x 5.2-(megawatt) MW Peakpower Bukidnon Inc. (PBI) with Bukidnon Second Electric Cooperative (Buseco).”

Meanwhile, ABCI’s whollyowned subsidiary Hydro Link Projects Corp. ( HLPC), is pursuing a 16.3- MW hydroelectric plant in Surigao del Sur, marking the company’s foray into renewable energy.

These projects are meant to address Mindanao’s power shortage issues due to the inadequate supply of power generation capacities.

In particular, PEI’s focus is on putting up peaking plants in partnership with credit-worthy electric cooperatives to address the ongoing power shortage in Mindanao.

“These plants take one year to complete, and will be under buildoperatetransfer arrangements with each off-taker,” ABCI said.

Peakpower Soccsargen Inc., a wholly- owned unit of PEI, has started constructing the 13.9-megawatt (MW) expansion of the 20.9MW diesel/bunker-fired power plant in General Santos City.

“The 2 units of Wartsila Engines will be delivered next month. Target commercial operations for the new units will be end-December,” ABCI said.

Another PEI unit, Peakpower San Francisco Inc. is doubling the capacity of its 5.2- MW diesel/ bunker-fired power plant located in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur.

Meanwhile, Peakpower Bukidnon Inc. is constructing a new diesel-fired power plant with a capacity of 10.4 MW in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon which is targeted for commercial operations by the end of April 2017.

For its thrust in the renewable energy sector, ABCI said subsidiary HLPC has several prospect sites for hydroelectric generation across the Philippines, particularly in Mindanao, which “is rich in natural resources and has a huge potential for renewable energy, especially hydropower.”

Currently, HLPC has completed a feasibility study the Carac-an Hydroelectric Project in Cantilan, Surigao del Sur, and is now awaiting the Department of Energy to grant the corresponding Certificate of Commerciality, which is necessary to start the project.