Meralco invites firms to submit bids for 1,800-MW baseload power supply

By Alena Mae S. Flores – November 2, 2023, 9:00 pm
from manilastandard.net

Power retailer Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) said Thursday it started the competitive selection process (CSP) or bidding for 1,800 megawatts (MW) of supply to meet the growing demand of its customers starting next year.

Meralco said the Department of Energy issued a certificate of conformity on the terms of reference (TOR) for a 15-year contract involving its 1,800-MW baseload requirement.

Meralco, through its bids and awards committee for power supply agreements (PSAs), called on interested power generation companies to participate in the CSP and set the submission of expression of interest on Nov. 13, 2023.

It scheduled the pre-bid conference on Nov. 20, 2023, while the bid submission deadline was set on Dec. 26, 2023.

Meralco said the CSP aims to replace the capacity covered by Meralco’s 2021 PSAs with Excellent Energy Resources Inc. (EERI) and Masinloc Power Partners Co. Ltd. (MPPCL) which were terminated earlier this year.

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) approved the termination of contracts last month.

Meralco also plans to conduct a separate CSP for 1,200 MW of baseload capacity.

Meralco’s 1,200-MW baseload CSP will replace the terminated South Premiere Power Corp. deal under ERC Case No. 2019-081RC, San Miguel Energy Corp. (now known as Sual Power Inc.) PSA under ERC Case No. 2019-083RC and the failure of negotiations with Solar Philippines Batangas Baseload Corp. for execution of the 200-MW PSA.

The 1,200 MW capacity will have a 15-year contract starting Mar. 26, 2024.