Exec: San Miguel eyes 300-MW LNG power plant in San Carlos

NEGROS Occidental Provincial Consultat Alfredo "Albee" Benitez confirmed Tuesday, March 8, 2022, that San Miguel Corporation (SMC) is eyeing the construction of an P18.5-billion 300-megawatt (MW) liquified natural gas (LNG) power plant in San Carlos City.

"If we can position the province and Bacolod City to be completely Green Power we will be the first of its kind (especially that ) we have enough solar farms that's been sprouting,” Benitez said.

He said what is needed is a baseload to provide a constant supply of power for the solar farms, especially when there is no sunlight.

“One solution we are looking into is the one being proposed by San Miguel Group to put up an LNG or Liquid Natural Gas Power Plant to complement the solar farms in the province,” the former lawmaker said.

Once this is established, the plant is expected to provide sufficient power in Negros Occidental and it will be completely renewable.

It will make Negros Occidental the first province that is completely dependent on renewabel energy, Benitez said.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) records showed that SMC Global’s wholly owned unit Reliance Energy Development Inc. (Redi) is proposing the 4x75-MW LNG combined cycle power plant within the San Carlos City Ecozone in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.

The proposed project will be constructed inside the 49-hectare leased property from Grand Planters International Inc.

An on-shore LNG terminal facility will be constructed adjacent to the power plant to store and re-gasify the LNG that will be delivered through barging.

Benitez said Redi is targeting to start constructing the power project in the third quarter with completion eyed in the third quarter of 2024.

It is in the process of pre-feasibility study and environmental compliance certificate application, he added.

The company considered different technologies for the project, such as natural gas, coal, wind and solar, but chose natural gas since it is more flexible, secured, environmental-friendly and cost-effective.