Power firms sign MOU for 9.6-MW power plant in Mindanao

A Brown Company Inc. has signed a memorandum of understanding with South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative, Inc. for the installation of a 9.6-megawatt bunker-fired power plant in electricity-deficient southern Mindanao. "Both parties also see the urgency of setting up a new power facility as there is no new large generating capacity scheduled to come online in the Mindanao grid in the next three years," said A Brown in a statement.  South Cotabato Electric II distributes electricity to General Santos City, South Cotabato and Sarangani. Because of the deficiency in power supply in the region, it has had to implement a load dropping and/or rotating brownout schedule in its franchise area. Under the memorandum, both parties will negotiate the final terms of the supply, installation and operation of the facility within 90 days. South Cotabato Electric II president Elenito Senit and A Brown vice president for business development Roel Castro signed the memorandum. Through its subsidiary Palm Thermal Consolidated Holdings, A Brown will also build a 135-MW coal-fired power plant project in Iloilo. — BM, GMA News