THE first 150-megawatt (MW) unit of the P25-billion 300-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant project of Therma South Inc. (TSI), a subsidiary of the AboitizPower Corp., located at the boundary of Binugao in Toril, Davao City and Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, will go online anytime by March, a TSI top executive said.
TSI Mindanao Affairs First Vice President Bobby M. Orig, at the sidelines of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (CanCham) Davao Chapter General Membership Meeting at Park Inn Hotel on Thursday, told reporters that the coal-fired power plant is now nearing completion and they are expecting the first 150 MW unit to go online anytime this March while the second 150 MW unit is expected to go online anytime in June this year.
Earlier, the company implemented a steam blowing operation as part of its preparation for the commercial operation of the power plant.
"Steam blowing is the process of cleaning the pipes of the power plant. High-pressured steam is used to clear the pipes of rust and dust," TSI said in a statement.
Once completed, the 300-MW coal-fired power plant will be delivering baseload power to 23 electric cooperatives and distribution utilities in Mindanao.
These included the Surigao del Sur Electric Cooperative II (Surseco II), Misamis Occidental 1 Electric Cooperative (Moelci 1), Cotabato Electric Cooperative (Cotelco) and Sultan Kudarat Electric Cooperative (Sukelco), Davao Light & Power Company (DLPC), and Cotabato Light & Power Company (CLPC).
Also with the onlining of the power plant, the government will be able to implement the rehabilitation of the 982 MW Agus-Pulangi Power Plant Complexes.
Earlier, Romeo M. Montenegro, Mindanao Development Authority (Minda) director of investment promotions and public affairs, told Sun.Star Davao that the rehabilitation of the Agus-Pulangi Power Plants will be after summer, which is also in time for the full operations of TSI's 300 MW coal-fired power plant.