Maniolas

MANILA, Philippines – The largest self-use solar rooftop power plant in the country was launched yesterday at a shopping mall in Laguna. The 700-kilowatt Central Mall Biñan solar rooftop project is part of the country’s efforts to promote the use of renewable energy and reduce the public’s dependence on coal-fired power plants. Premiumlink Development Corp., the company operating Central Mall Biñan, tapped Solar Philippines which designed, constructed and installed at zero upfront cost the entire system. Solar Philippines and Premiumlink signed a purchase power agreement wherein the energy generated by the solar power plant is sold to the establishment for its own consumption, at a rate lower than the usual electricity rates in the area. With the power plant on its roof augmenting 30 percent of City Mall Biñan’s total energy consumption, the mall’s management is able to save more than P100,000 monthly on electricity bills. Spreading over 700 square meters of sunlit roof space, the solar power plant is made up of 2,514 top quality solar panels on steel mounting structures that can withstand wind speeds up to 200 kph. The energy generated by the panels is converted into electricity by 87 inverters, ready to be used by the mall tenants, administration and mall goers, Solar Philippines said. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The Central Mall Biñan solar rooftop project is the first solar project granted loan financing by one of the country’s biggest banks, Ayala-owned Bank of the Philippines Islands (BPI). Furthermore, the project Read More …

MANILA, Philippines – Indonesian palm oil producer PT Musim Mas plans to expand its operations by  entering the Philippine market. Togar Sitanggang, senior manager for corporate affairs of PT Musim Mas, told reporters yesterday the firm is interested in opening a palm oil plantation in Mindanao. A team from the company would visit Mindanao sometime this year to look at potential sites. The company is interested in some 900,000 hectares of land for possible palm oil production in Mindanao. “We are in the very early stage. Whether we will invest or not, we still don’t know yet,” Sitanggang said. Depending on the land available to the firm, he said the company may also invest in a refinery. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Before deciding on making an investment in the Philippines, he said the company would need to find a local partner. In deciding on investments, he said the company needs to ensure that the place offers an environment that supports business. At the same time, the land to be used for production should not be subject to any dispute and there should be no security issues. “By next year, we may know what we will do,” he said. PT Musim Mas is Indonesia’s second largest palm oil producer. Apart from Indonesia, the firm currently has operations in Malaysia, India, China and some countries in Europe.

MANILA, Philippines – The Aboitiz Group seeks to retain its position as one of the country’s Big Three power players in the coming years by remaining aggressive in the hunt for state-owned facilities and supply contracts that are yet to be privatized. In an interview, Aboitiz Power Corp. chief executive officer Erramon Aboitiz said the company is keen on joining all government auctions in the power sector.  “We would look at all the power assets. We tend to look at all the power deals and try to understand it and decide if we want to participate,” Aboitiz said. He cited two specific government supply contracts which the company currently has its sights set on.  “So we have the Unified Leyte bulk energy. We are now studying the Mt. Apo IPPA (independent power producer administrator). I think part of the schedule of PSALM is to do the Steag IPPA so we would look at that also,” Aboitiz said. AboitizPower in February this year has been awarded by the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) 40 megwatts of the Unified Leyte geothermal power plants’ output. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The IPPA contract for the Mt. Apo 1 and 2 geothermal power plants in North Cotabato are currently being put up for bidding to the private sector as well. Auction for the IPPA of the 210-MW Steag State Power Inc coal plant in Misamis Oriental, meanwhile, has yet to be scheduled. AboitizPower has earmarked a capital Read More …

MANILA, Philippines – The Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) has recalculated the possible increase in the universal charge if it is forced to settle up to P62 billion in damages from a class suit filed by the former drivers and mechanics of National Power Corp. (Napocor), the state-owned power company. From a previous estimate of a 51 centavo per kilowatt-hour increase in the universal charge, PSALM is now looking at increasing the universal charge by 23 centavos per kwh for recovery period of 11 years and 22 centavos per kwh for a 12- year recovery. However, PSALM president Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. stressed there is still no decision yet on whether or not the agency would indeed pass on to consumers the P62 billion in damages sought by the former employees of Napocor through an increase in the universal charge. The universal charge is a separate line in consumers’ electricity bills. It is being charged to all electricity consumers. PSALM is the government corporation tasked to privatize state-owned power assets. “If there is indeed any amount due, the Supreme Court mentioned the universal charge but we will coordinate with other agencies,” Ledesma said. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Napocor lost a class suit filed by former members of its Drivers and Mechanics Association (DAMA) who were terminated in 2003 and is being asked to pay P62 billion in damages, according to a Supreme Court resolution dated June 30, 2014. The petitioners comprised about 8,018 Read More …