ERC issues COC to GNPower coal plant

BY LENIE LECTURA – DECEMBER 27, 2021
from Business Mirror

Some 700megawatts (MW) of additional capacity will be added to the Luzon grid after the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) released Monday a Certificate of Compliance (COC) to GNPower Dinginin Ltd. Co. (GNPD).

“With the issuance of a COC to GNPD, it can now commercially operate and inject power to the Luzon Grid that will provide the much needed additional power supply to meet the increasing demand for power this holiday season and up to the election period,” ERC Chairperson and CEO Agnes VST Devanadera said.

The COC is for the first unit (724.965 MW) of GNPower Dinginin coal plant in Mariveles, Bataan.

The GNPD’s generation facility is composed of two 668 MW net supercritical coal-fired power plant and its associated facilities are connected to the Luzon grid via an interim connection to the Mariveles Substation. The final connection of the generation assets will be connected to the New Mariveles (Alas-asin) 500 kV Switching station of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). The COC granted to GNPD, however, is only for its Unit 1, as Unit 2 is still undergoing construction, and yet to complete test and commissioning.  GNPD, in consultation and coordination with the NGCP and the Department of Energy (DOE) moved its internal test for Unit 1 last November 30 in view of the current demand and supply situation, and to support the grid during the Malampaya’s outage.

The COC granted is valid for a period of five years, which may be revoked or suspended by the ERC at any time, should the NGCP determine that the continued injection of the 668 MW by GNPD will imperil the safety and security of the grid.

“The grant of COC to GNPower Dinginin will augment the country’s generation capacity and a proactive effort by the Commission, particularly in cases where power demand outweighs supply. ERC sees to it that COC applications are approved as soon as all legal, technical and financial requirements have been satisfied in order to ensure that supply matches the demand and to promote a sustainable power supply,” Devanadera added.