The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has imposed a Php4.31 million fine on Sem-Calaca Power Corporation (SCPC) after both of its generators exceeded the maximum allowable unplanned outages last year.
SCPC, a subsidiary of Consunji-led Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, owns the 600-megawatt (MW) Calaca coal-fired power plant in Batangas.
In a decision released by the ERC on Friday, it said the plant’s 300MW Unit 1 had a total of 22 unplanned outage days, while the 300MW Unit 2 had 113 forced outage days – both from January to April 2021. Units 1 and 2 exceeded the 16.8-day annual forced outage limit for pulverized power plants by 5.24 days and 96.2 days, respectively.
SCPC particularly violated Article 5 of ERC Resolution No. 10, Series of 2020.
Last year, Unit 1 had multiple unplanned outages due to leaks in its boiler tubes and burners, which were not part of its Life-Extension Program conducted in 2019. Meanwhile, Unit 2’s newly-installed generator tripped due to generator ground fault, with leaks and tripping in its stator cooling water pump, also resulting in an unplanned outage. Unit 2 was a contributor to last year’s Red Alerts in Luzon.