PH Renewables, Inc. (PHRI), a subsidiary of MGEN Renewable Energy, Inc. (MGreen) of Manila Electric Company (Meralco), has secured P2.65 billion loan to bankroll the construction of its ongoing 75-megawatt ac (MWac) solar power project in Baras, Rizal.
The company announced that the loan facility has a 15-year term; and it was secured from the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC); and the arranger was RCBC Capital Corporation.
The solar farm project, which is sited within the grounds of the Philippine Communications Satellite Corporation (Philcomsat) facility in Rizal, is targeted for commercial operations within first quarter of next year.
The off-take deal (capacity purchase) for the generated electricity of the solar plant is with its affiliate firm MPower, the local retail electricity supplier (RES) arm of power utility giant Meralco.
With the project’s completion already highly expected, MGen President and CEO Jaime T. Azurin indicated that “we look forward to taking part in this evolving energy landscape as we move towards our target of building 1,500MW of renewable energy over the next seven years.
Project sponsor firm PHRI is a joint venture between MGreen, Meralco PowerGen’s wholly owned renewable energy unit; and Mitsui & Co. subsidiary Mit-Renewables Philippine Corporation (Mit-Renewables).
Apart from the solar power installation in Rizal, Mit-Renewables is also currently developing a 45 MWac solar project in Cordon, Isabela; while the current operating asset of MGreen is the 55MWac BulacanSol facility in San Miguel, Bulacan.
For his part, RCBC President and CEO Eugene S. Acevedo reiterated their bank’s stance that “we are fully committed to building a greener future by actively funding renewable energy projects, consistent with our sustainability initiatives.”
RCBC has been the first Philippine bank that openly declared in 2020 that it will already stop funding greenfield coal-fired power plant projects; and it will be shifting capital flow into RE investments as well as cleaner fossil fuel facilities, like gas-fed power installations.
Additionally, RCBC Capital President and CEO Jose Luis F. Gomez noted that the loan facility extended to the Baras solar project “greatly benefits the country and the environment in general,” adding that “while the endeavor was not without its challenges, the group was able to overcome these with flying colors, making it a more fulfilling exercise.”