- Power plant will supply Mindanao with reliable and cost-effective baseload power
- Facility is first in Southeast Asia to use “coal dome” technology
Therma South Energy Project, Mindanao’s first major power plant since 2006 has begun commercial operations with the full switch-on of the first of its twounit 150-MW power plant on September 18, 2015. The power plant has delivered contracted power to its more than 20 electric cooperatives and distriibution utilities that provide electricity in the cities of Davao, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Butuan, Kidapawan, Cotabato and Tagum. It will also serve the provinces of Davao, Caraga, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, parts of Bukidnon, parts of Misamis and parts of Zamboanga peninsula.
“We have informed our customers and our stakeholders that we will soon be on full commercial operations and will supply Mindanao with reliable and costeffective baseload power,” Therma South Inc. President and COO Benjamin A. Cariaso, Jr. said. “We are here not only to help Mindanao solve the current power crisis. The Aboitiz group is committed to helping Mindanao sustain its economic growth and finally fulfill its potential.”
The power plant also features the first “coal dome” in Southeast Asia – a modern coal storage facility that will ensure security of the fuel and safety and well-being of the surrounding areas. The power plant will utilize circulating fluidized bed (CFB) technology to ensure it meets government standards on health, safety and protection of the environment while operating in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
The second 150MW unit is scheduled for commercial operations in early 2016. The power plant started construction in 2012 and, at its peak, employed more than 4,500 workers, mostly from its host communities.