‘Strategic ports critical to OSW projects’
By Lenie Lectura – September 25, 2024
from Business Mirror
BuhaWind Energy Philippines, the joint venture between Copenhagen Energy (CE) and PetroGreen Energy Corp. (PGEC), said Tuesday the repurposing of strategic ports is “a big step” in advancing offshore wind (OSW) projects in the country.
Last week, the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) jointly announced the repurposing of the Port of Currimao in Ilocos Norte, Port of Batangas in Sta. Clara, Batangas City, and Port of Jose Panganiban in Camarines Norte.
The PPA will undertake the detailed engineering designs and take immediate steps to repurpose the said ports to ensure that they are fully equipped to handle the installation, commissioning, and operational requirements of OSW projects.
Buhawind’s 2,000 megawatt (MW) OSW project will benefit from the repurposing of the Currimao Port. This project is among the most advanced offshore wind developments in the Philippines to date and will contribute to substantial direct and indirect jobs in the region, estimated at 24,000 over a two-year construction phase and thirty-year operational period.
Additionally, BuhaWind is developing two other projects with expected capacity each of 1,000MW in Northern Mindoro and East Panay. The second priority port—Sta Clara in Batangas—can serve BuhaWind’s Northern Mindoro project, contributing 1,000 MW of green electricity to the region.
“Over the last four years, CE and our partners from PetroGreen, have been engaged in a constructive dialogue with the representatives from the DOE and the PPA, and we applaud them for this important step. Commitment on the selection and repurposing of the three ports is part of a series of recent positive developments, such as the announcement on the upcoming offshore wind Green Energy Auction expected in Q2-2025 and the NGCP’s grid extension plans,” said Copenhagen Energy CEO Jasmin Bejdić.
PEGC President Francisco G. Delfin Jr. said the repurposing these ports is “a game-changer” for the Philippine offshore wind industry. “The Currimao Port’s involvement in the BuhaWind project is crucial for establishing the Philippines as a significant player in the regional and global offshore wind market.”
Repurposing and modernizing these ports are critical to OSW development, given their proximity to high-potential offshore wind energy service contracts (OWESCs).
Positioned near 13 OWESCs, the Port of Currimao supports a potential total capacity of 9,489 MW with three service contracts already in the advanced pre-development stage while the Port of Batangas is located close to 29 OWESCs with a combined potential capacity of 24,300 MW. Six of these projects are in the advanced stages of pre-development, including permitting, licensing, and data gathering.
The Port of Jose Panganiban, meanwhile, is situated near 14 OWESCs with a potential capacity of 8,150 MW, with two projects in the advanced pre-development phase.
Image credits: www.buhawind.com.ph
