Alsons Power Group on Thursday, kick-started the construction of the second 105-megawatt (MW) section of the 210 MW Sarangani Energy Corporation (SEC) coal-fired power plant in Maasim, Saranggani Bay.
The groundbreaking also included the ceremonial switch on of SEC’s first 105 MW section led by President Rodrigo Duterte.
“We are helping lay the groundwork for power security in the near future in order to meet the expected rise in demand brought about by Mindanao’s dynamic economic growth,” Alsons Consolidated Resources and Sarangani Energy Corporation chairman Tomas I. Alcantara said.
SEC Section 1 started its commercial operations in April 2016, and is currently supplying power in the provinces of Sarangani, Compostela Valley, Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur; the cities of General Santos, Iligan, Bayugan, Butuan, Samal, and Tagum; and in some areas in Davao del Norte and South Cotabato.
Meanwhile, SEC Section 2 is expected to operate in 2019 and is set to provide power in the provinces of South Cotabato, Davao del Sur, Misamis Oriental, North Cotabato, Zamboanga del Norte, and Zamboanga del Sur, as well as the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Dapitan, Digos, Dipolog, Korondal, Kidapawan, and Pagadian.
The SEC baseload coal-fired power plant is touted to be the single largest power investment in Sarangani Province and in the entire Soccsksargen region.
Alsons is also set to begin construction for its 105 MW baseload plant in Zamboanga City through the San Ramon Power Inc. and is expected to go online by 2020.
The company will also invest around $650 million in renewable energy in the next six years, starting with the 15 MW run-of-river hydro project in Siguil River in Maasim, Sarangani.
“As Mindanao’s first and most experienced independent power producer, we proudly support the Duterte administration’s focus on stimulating growth in key areas outside of Metro Manila,” Alcantara said.