ROMBLON, June 28 (PNA) — Sunwest Water and Electric Company (SUWECO) has switched-on Sunday its 8.8 Megawatts (MWs) diesel fired power plant in Tablas, Romblon; expected to improve the lives of more than 200,000 residents of the island.
“The inauguration of SUWECO’s power plant is a welcome relief to more than 200,000 Romblon residents who have been suffering from daily power outages since 2012,” SUWECO said in a statement Sunday.
Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla and National Power Corporation (Napocor) President Gladys Sta. Rita-Cruz led the switch-on ceremony, along with Romblon officials, SUWECO executives and the Tablas Electric Cooperative (TIELCO).
Petilla said, in a speech, that SUWECO was bold to build a power plant, without having assurances of receiving the provisional authority from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for the full 8.8 MW capacity.
It currently operates with a decreased capacity of 750 kilowatts (kW) following its ERC approved Interim Power Supply Agreement (IPSA) with TIELCO.
However, SUWECO President Elizaldy Co pointed out it can increase the capacity to 3 MW by August, upon receiving the provisional authority, while Napocor will supply the peak load.
Co also thanked the Secretary, the ERC and the Local Government Units (LGU) of Romblon for supporting the power project.
SUWECO’s power plant, which costs more than Php 225 million, consists of 8×1.1MW diesel-fired generators.
Eduardo Firmalo, the governor of Romblon, said the island currently has a power demand of 6 MW, which is expected to increase to 10 MW in the next three years.
He added that restaurants and supermarkets have been expressing interest to invest in the island.
Another huge project is currently in the works, with Romblon planning to build its own eco-zone.
Romblon Congressman Eleandro Jesus Madrona noted that from a diesel rate of Php 15 per kWh, the province would only pay Php 5-6 kWh due to NPC’s assistance earned from the universal charge for missionary electrification (UCME).
SUWECO is engaged in building water facilities, electricity generation and distribution in the Philippines. (PNA)