SUWECO wins bid for Romblon power

Sunwest Water and Electric Co. Inc. (SUWECO) will be supplying power to Tablas Island in Romblon after it won the bidding in the recently concluded competitive selection process. In a statement Tuesday, the firm said it is preparing an P800-million investment to put up the needed power capacity in the area. The results of the bidding was announced last Friday by Tablas Island Electric Cooperative Procurement Bids and Award Committee chairman Erwin  Tangonan. Tangonan said the people of Tablas Island are looking forward to the solution on the perennial frequent power interruptions and severe load shedding due to the unreliable supply of power in the area. SUWECO has been given a year to start its operation and take over the power supply obligation on Tablas Island in accordance with the terms of the 15-year power supply agreement with Tablas Island Electric. The scope of the power supply includes the entire capacity requirement of the electric cooperative, including its reserve capacity for the initial years of the agreement, and fixed capacity thereafter with the right to priority dispatch.   The total quantity to be contracted is estimated at 7.5 megawatts excluding spinning and cold reserves. SUWECO president Jose Silvestre Natividad said they will immediately start the development of four mini-hydropower plants on the island.  — KBK, GMA News