ILOILO CITY – A major power company is eyeing to construct a solar power plant in Iloilo province as it gears to expand its clean energy projects in the other parts of the country.
“We are looking to commit 1,500 megawatts (MWs) in the Visayas starting next year,” said Jaime Azurin, president and chief executive officer of Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen).
According to Azurin, MGen’s clean energy projects are all in Luzon. It includes BulacanSol, a solar power plant in San Miguel town, Bulacan province that generates 50 MW.
After acquiring Global Business Power (GBP) in 2021, MGen’s subsidiaries had two power plants in Iloilo City.
The Panay Energy Development Corp. (PEDC) operates the 314-MW coal-fired power plant while Panay Power Corp. (PPC) operates a 72-MW diesel plant.
“So we are looking at Cebu and Iloilo to be able to expand our niche and provide clean energy to our consumers in the Visayas,” Azurin said.
According to Azurin, Iloilo is ideal for hydroelectric power due to the ongoing construction of the multi-billion mega-dam project in Calinog town. The Jalaur River Multipurpose Project (JRMP-Phase II) has a component for clean energy.
Azurin said that MGen is still looking for sites in the province since most of its land is used for farming or industrial zones.