DMCI Holdings Inc. subsidiary DMCI Power Corp. is keen on pursuing a 12-megawatt on-shore wind project in Mindoro and a separate 4-MW solar project in Masbate representing its maiden venture into the renewables sector.
Isidro Consunji, DMCI Holdings president and chief executive officer, told reporters the initial 12-MW worth of wind power will be put up in Semirara Island to provide power to the group’s coal mining operations that requires at least 35 MW of electricity.
Consunji said the initial 12 MW from wind energy will likely be completed by year’s end and thoroughly evaluated given that Semirara Island, according to a study, has the potential to produce more than 100 MW from wind energy.
Consunji said excluding interconnection costs, the wind project will need $1 million for each megawatt produced.
In the same venue, Antonino Gatdula Jr., DMCI Power president, said the 4 MW solar project in Masbate is intended to supply electricity to the Masbate Electric Cooperative (Maselco).
Gatdula said the Energy Regulatory Commission requires the company to submit a few more documents even prior to the filing of a power supply agreement with Maselco for approval.
All of DMCI Power’s projects use thermal technologies such as the 15-MW circulating fluidized bed coal-fired plant in Mobo, Masbate; a 2×4.95-MW bunker-fired plant in Aborlan, Palawan; the 19.71-MW bunker-fired plant in Calapan city, Oriental Mindoro; as well as a 3-MW diesel plant in Pio V. Corpuz and another 8-MW diesel power plant in Cataingan both in Masbate.
DMCI Power was established in 2006 to energize small and remote islands in the country not connected to the main grid and the biggest off-grid power provider in the country.
DMCI Power affiliate firm Semirara Mining and Power Corp. (SMPC), posted a record-breaking coal sales volume of 15.8 million metric tons (MT) in 2023, a 6 percent increase from 2022 figures of around 15 million MT.
SMPC said the growth was fueled by a 13 percent rise in export sales which surged from 7.1 million MT to 8.1 million MT even though domestic sales stayed flat at 7.7 million MT.
“Our sales performance aligns with our 2023 target of 15 to 16 million MT. It also reflects our team’s relentless effort and commitment to deliver stable fuel supply amidst the challenging dynamics of the global market,” said Maria Cristina Gotianun, SMPC president and chief operating officer.
Last year, the bulk of Semirara coal exports went to China, 65 percent, followed by South Korea with 27 percent and Brunei, with 4 percent, as all remaining shipments were made to Japan, India and Vietnam.
SMPC said China shipments recovered by 31 percent from 4 million MT to 5.2 million MT on heavy stockpiling, consumption recovery and lower hydropower generation while demand from South Korea was steady year-on-year at 2.2 million MT while Brunei sales nearly tripled from 102,967 MT to 306,800 MT.
According to Gotianun, the goal is to ship at least 15 million MT of Semirara coal, focusing on the domestic market.
