To meet the growing demand for electricity in Palawan, DMCI Power Corp. has announced a plan to build a new 15-megawatt power plant in the town of Narra, reports Palawan News.
The company submitted its proposal to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, revealing that the new facility would be constructed next to its existing 15-mW plant that uses a mix of coal and biomass. The project is estimated to cost three billion pesos.
In its project description, the company explained that the expansion is necessary to fulfill its power supply contract with the Palawan Electric Cooperative (PALECO). It pointed to a lack of backup power as a key issue for the island.
“This problem tends to get worse during the scheduled maintenance shutdowns of power providers, which causes rotating power outages,” the company stated. It added that the new plant is needed to “help address the power supply challenges and ensure its full compliance” with its agreement.
The Department of Energy has supported the project, granting it two key approvals: one that exempts it from a national moratorium on new coal plants, and another that certifies it as an Energy Project of National Significance.
DMCI Power has been operating in Palawan since 2013 and currently manages several power plants across the province, including facilities that run on diesel, bunker fuel, and a coal-biomass mix.
