San Miguel seeks to double power plant capacity in Zamboanga
Ramon S. Ang-led San Miguel Global Power Corp. (SMGP) is seeking to expand its gas turbine power project in Zamboanga City.
According to a notice from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Malita Power, Inc. (MPI), an SMGP subsidiary, has proposed to double its plant’s capacity from 28 megawatts (MW) to 56 MW.
The proposal also includes an increase in the project’s land area, from 10,000 square meters to 14,212 square meters.
The company’s documents submitted to the DENR stated that the expansion is needed to address power insufficiency caused by a lack of power units and transmission issues in the region.
“The main problem in the Zamboanga Peninsula is the deficiency of local generators, which triggers voltage difficulties in northwestern Mindanao,” the document said. “Under the circumstances, voltage levels should be managed to maintain the normal operation of the grid.”
Malita Power Inc. plans to use “modular, fast-start, high-speed, quick-response, small capacity, diesel-fired generating units” to address the problem.
The company added that the project will “alleviate the power supply delivery and voltage stability issues and help augment the demand for reliable and affordable power supply of Zamboanga Peninsula, and will contribute to national development.”
A public hearing on the proposal is scheduled for Aug. 28, 2025.
San Miguel's current power capacity is 5,057 MW, contributing 20 percent of the country’s grid.