Aboitiz Power leaps as PH’s top power generator

By Myrna M. Velasco – September 17, 2020, 8:40 AM
from Manila Bulletin

Aboitiz Power Corporation is now ahead of the race, having cemented itself as the top power generator in the country with total national installed capacity of 4,973.435 megawatts, according to a report by the Department of Energy.

The Aboitiz firm eclipsed SMC Global Power Corporation of the San Miguel group, which for years had been in the top post. San Miguel’s national installed capacity was a little behind at 4,856 megawatts as of April this year.

Aboitiz Power itself had exceeded its own target of 4,000MW for year 2020, an investment goal that its chairman of the board Erramon I. Aboitiz had cast for years when he was chief executive of the firm.

“In the national grid, the Aboitiz Power Corporation gains the largest market share in totality, holding 21.3-percent of the 23,409.7MW national installed capacity, followed by San Miguel Power Corporation with 20.7-percent,” the DOE report stated.

In the third rank is First Gen Corporation with 3,567.87MW of installed capacity, followed by state-run Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) with a portfolio of 2,462.882MW; and the next one is AC Energy of the Ayala group with 1,235.11MW.

First Gen posted 15% market share; PSALM has 11-percent in the pie; AC Energy cornered a considerably modest 5.0-percent share; while the balance of 27-percent had been held by the other industry players.

In the biggest power grid of Luzon, San Miguel still reigns as the leading power producer with 4,556MW capacity and that gives it a market share of 28-percent in the grid; while Aboitiz Power is second with 3,401.65MW or an equivalent 21-percent share.

First Gen’s capacity in Luzon is at 2,518MW; while PSALM has 1,615.782MW. The other major players in the grid have been: Consunji-led DMCI Group with 950MW; AC Energy with 557.2MW; and Quezon Power Philippines Ltd. with 460MW capacity.

For the Visayas grid, First Gen is leading with 941.47MW capacity; while Aboitiz Power came in next with 730.840MW; and the third one is Global Business Power Corporation with 605.7MW capacity. Other power generating firms contributing significant capacity to this grid have been: SPC Power for 315.2MW; AC Energy for 223.7MW; A. Brown Company Inc. with 135MW capacity; and Helios Solar Energy Inc. with 108.12MW.

In Mindanao grid, government-owned firm PSALM topped the list with 847.10MW; followed by Aboitiz Power with 840.945MW; then Alsons Power with 480.211MW capacity. The other heavy weight players in the southernmost grid are: AC Energy with 454.21MW; then FDC Utilities Inc. of the Gotianun group with 450MW; San Miguel with 300MW; Cagayan Electric Power and Light Company with 229.519MW and First Gen with 108.40MW.

“Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao indicate a moderately concentrated market or reasonably competitive market,” the energy department stated.

The market share limitation for each generator on a per grid basis is 30-percent of installed capacity; and it is at 25-percent market share cap on national installed capacity reference.