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Philippines’ San Miguel abandons

long list of coal projects

PHILIPPINES THE Philippines’ San Miguel Corp. (SMC) is as we transition to cleaner sources, we will not
to stop building new coal-fired power plants undermine our commitment to meet the grow-
and will instead concentrate on renewables, the ing demand for affordable and reliable energy,”
country’s Department of Energy (DOE) said in Ang said.
a statement. The company dropped plans to construct
The Department’s statement confirms an three new clean coal power plants in Quezon
earlier announcement by San Miguel unit SMC and Cebu with a capacity of 1,500 MW in favour
Global Power Holdings that it would add more of new facilities that utilise cleaner, renewable
renewables in its power portfolio to cut its car- energy sources.
bon footprint while addressing the country’s SMCGP also started its transition to cleaner
need for reliable and affordable power and move energy with the construction of 31 battery
away from coal, the Manila Standard reported. energy storage system facilities all over the coun-
SMC had previously told the DOE of plans try with total capacity of 1,000 MW, set for com-
to convert its 300-MW coal plant in San Carlos, pletion between this year and 2022.
Negros Occidental, into an LNG facility. SMC SMCGP would also install solar plants in
also plans to discontinue the 300-MW coal combination with battery storage facilities at 10
expansion project in Malita, Davao and the 328- locations throughout the country. These will be
MW project in Davao del Sur. operational by 2023.
The company also opted not to proceed with SMC is preparing to build a 1,300-MW LNG
Central Luzon Premiere Power’s 1,340-MW coal combined cycle plant in Batangas City, which
project and Lumiere Energy Technologies’ 710- will provide clean and stable power to Manila
MW station in Pagbilao, Quezon. Electric Co. over the next 20 years, beginning
“We’re executing on our plans to move 2024.
away from building new coal facilities, despite The facility will provide power at a very com-
new technologies that make them cleaner. It’s petitive price, cheaper than what modern coal
a company direction that is in line with all the plants in the country offer.
major sustainability initiatives we have under- SMC will also build small-scale LNG plants
taken these past couple of years,” SMC president in 8 to 10 islands in the Visayas and Mindanao
Ramon Ang said in a previous statement. to boost rural electrification. It has also lined up
“SMC has always maintained a diverse power several hydroelectric power plants (HPPs) in
portfolio utilising renewables and traditional, Luzon. ™
but proven technologies. This is to ensure that

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