DOE: Kingstone has no registered project

DOE working to restore power in areas affected by “Vinta”

Kingstone Energy, one of the disqualified bidders in the Manila Electric Company’s (MERALCO) ongoing competitive selection process (CSP) to supply the power giant’s 1,800-megawatt requirements, has no registered power project with the Department of Energy (DOE).

Energy Asec. Redentor Delola said that the company did not enlist any committed or indicative power project with the department.

Delola added that if Kingstone’s project indeed is a coal-fired power plant as pointed out by advocacy groups such as Infrawatch PH and Alyansa ng mga Grupong Haligi ng Agham at Teknolohiya para sa Mamamayan (AGHAM), then it would be covered by the DOE’s coal moratorium.

An editorial by BusinessMirror mentioned that Kingstone offered 1,200MW in capacity.

The editorial also noted that AC Energy subsidiary Santa Cruz Solar, which offered 150MW, was reportedly disqualified “because it bundled up multiple facilities with capacities much lower than the required minimum plant size of 150MW.”

Solar Philippines’ bid to supply 200MW to the power giant was also disqualified because it reportedly included batteries in its offer, which would source energy from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market. Under the power auction’s terms of reference, power supply must come from greenfield plants.

AC Energy and Solar Philippines are expected to appeal their bids.

MERALCO will be opening the bidders of the qualified power generators on Friday (February 19).