The Department of Energy (DOE) has reaffirmed that the Atimonan Energy Power Plant remains outside the coverage of the 2020 coal moratorium, allowing Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGen) to move forward with the 1,200 MW ultra-supercritical coal-fired facility in Quezon province.

The DOE’s confirmation cements Atimonan One Energy, Inc.’s (AOE) status as a committed project and clears the way for the processing of remaining permits via the Energy Virtual One Stop Shop (EVOSS).

The Atimonan project will deploy High Efficiency, Low Emission (HELE) technology, aimed at maximizing energy output while reducing fuel use and carbon emissions. This same technology is widely adopted in Asia, including in South Korea, Taiwan, and Indonesia.

According to MGen, the plant will supply baseload power for around five million households, or the energy needs of roughly 1,000 hospitals. The project is expected to meet around 7% of Luzon’s total energy demand, and could help lower power costs by an estimated PHP 12 billion annually.

MGen said the plant will contribute over PHP 1 billion yearly to the local economy and generate 6,000 construction jobs and 300 permanent roles once operational. The company also committed to supplying up to five million tree seedlings by 2035 to support government reforestation efforts.

“We welcome the DOE’s reaffirmation of the Atimonan Energy project’s non-coverage from the coal moratorium policy,” said MGen President and CEO Emmanuel V. Rubio. “Our investment in Atimonan will help address today’s needs while preparing for tomorrow’s opportunities.”

The project adds to MGen’s broad power portfolio, which includes the MTerra solar-battery complex—set to be the world’s largest of its kind—as well as investments in liquefied natural gas, positioning the company at the crossroads of traditional and transitional power solutions.

Is the Atimonan Energy project a necessary step toward energy security—or a step back from clean energy goals? Let us know what you think.  

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Photo credit: MGen