Atimonan power station
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Atimonan power station is a power station in Barangay Villa Ibaba, Altimonan, Quezon, Calabarzon, Philippines with multiple units of varying statuses, none of which are currently operating.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Atimonan power station | Barangay Villa Ibaba, Altimonan, Quezon, Calabarzon, Philippines | 14.0569, 121.86168 (exact) |
The map below shows the exact location of the power station.
Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):
- CC1, CC2, CC3, CC4, Unit 1, Unit 2: 14.0569, 121.86168
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | CHP | Start year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CC1 | Pre-construction[1][2][3][4][5] | fossil gas: LNG[4][2] | 640[4][3] | combined cycle[4][2] | not found | 2028 (planned)[6][2] |
| CC2 | Pre-construction[1][2][3][4][5] | fossil gas: LNG[4][2] | 640[4][3] | combined cycle[4][2] | not found | 2028 (planned)[6][2] |
| CC3 | Pre-construction[2][5] | fossil gas: LNG[4][2] | 640[2][5] | combined cycle[2] | not found | 2028 (planned)[6] |
| CC4 | Pre-construction[2][5] | fossil gas: LNG[4][2] | 640[2][5] | combined cycle[2] | not found | 2028 (planned)[6] |
| Unit 1 | Pre-construction | coal: unknown | 668 | ultra-supercritical | – | – |
| Unit 2 | Pre-construction | coal: unknown | 668 | ultra-supercritical | – | – |
CHP is an abbreviation for Combined Heat and Power. It is a technology that produces electricity and thermal energy at high efficiencies. Coal units track this information in the Captive Use section when known.
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner | Parent |
|---|---|---|
| CC1 | Atimonan One Energy Inc [100%][7] | Manila Electric Co [100.0%] |
| CC2 | Atimonan One Energy Inc [100%][7] | Manila Electric Co [100.0%] |
| CC3 | Atimonan One Energy Inc [100%][7] | Manila Electric Co [100.0%] |
| CC4 | Atimonan One Energy Inc [100%][7] | Manila Electric Co [100.0%] |
| Unit 1 | Atimonan One Energy Inc [100%][7] | Manila Electric Co [100.0%] |
| Unit 2 | Atimonan One Energy Inc [100%][7] | Manila Electric Co [100.0%] |
Project-level coal details
- Coal source(s): Indonesia and/or Australia
Background on Project
The Atimonan power station was originally proposed as a power plant fueled by liquified natural gas, but the project proponent, Meralco PowerGen, later changed the fuel to coal. In February 2015 the project was approved by the Quezon provincial legislative council, or Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP). According to a report in BusinessMirror, 11 SP members, including presiding officer Vice Gov. Sam Nantes, were hosted in Taiwan on January 28 and 29 by a Taiwanese construction company on an all-expenses paid trip to view similar power plants. Final approval of the project rests with the national government.[8] The project received an environmental compliance certificate from the Environment Department on Oct. 13, 2015. Completion was planned for 2018.[9]
In November 2015, it was reported that Meralco was still searching for partners for the project, which was estimated at US$2 billion (P94.41 billion), "with the partner likely Japanese or Korean and probably not Chinese," according to company chairman Manuel Pangilinan.[10] In February 2016, Pangilinan expressed uncertainty about what sort of energy mix was favored by the Philippine government: "Should we turn to coal plants... should we turn to gas plants? What are the limits?” He said the Atimonan plant would be a "big question mark" because of its large size."[11]
The certificate of land use conversion for the project was received in March 2016. Construction of the resettlement site was ongoing. In September 2016 Meralco said it was hoping to find a partner for its Atimonan project by first quarter 2017. The estimated cost had risen to US$3 billion.[12]
As of early 2017, Meralco was looking for a foreign partner for the project — "Japanese, Korean. Probably not Chinese." The firm took proposals from potential partners in April. The debt portion of the project (i.e., the capital needing to be raised) was $2 billion; the equity portion was $700 million, for a total of $2.7 billion. Permits were in hand, and resettlement of 50 of the 70 families living on the site had been finished. The supply contract was also still pending. Meralco executives stated that they hoped to bring on an EPC contractor in the second quarter of 2017, start construction in mid-2017, and finish the project by the end of 2021.[13][14] In December 2017 Meralco signed an agreement with ESB International (ESBI), a subsidiary of the Electricity Supply Board of Ireland, under which ESBI would operate and manage the plant for its first ten years, after which it would be operated by Meralco.[15] In February 2018 it was reported that the Energy Regulatory Commission was still considering the proposed Power Supply Agreement for Antimonan and could not give a date for approving or rejecting it.[16]
In October 2018 Meralco announced that it would proceed with construction of Altimonan as a merchant plant that would sell power wholesale instead of through a Power Supply Agreement (PSA).[17] In April 2019 Meralco asked the government to expedite its review of power sharing agreements (PSA's) for seven of its plants, including Atimonan, due to power shortages in Luzon.[18] In April 2019 it was reported that construction had not begun because the plant did not have approval for its power supply agreement from the Energy Regulatory Commission.[19]
In May 2019 the Supreme Court of the Philippines invalidated the plant's Power Supply Agreements (PSA's) because they had not gone through a competitive selection process (CSP), delaying development of the plant. In all seven plants owned by Meralco or contracting with Meralco had their PSA's invalidated by the ruling.[20] In October 2019 State Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate of the Bayan Muna party and Bayan Muna Party Chair Neri Colmenares filed a court petition to require Meralco to tap an independent bidding supervisor, not itself, for power supply agreements or PSAs.[21][22]
The Philippine Department of Energy (DOE) gave the project's completion date as 2024 in its August 2019 list of initiated power projects in Luzon.[23] In May 2020 the project's cost was estimated at P160 billion, up from P94.41 billion in 2015.[24]
In April 2021, Meralco announced that it was abandoning plans to construct the 660 MW coal-fired Subic power station, specifically citing an intention to move away from coal.[25] After the Subic closure was announced, environmental activists said they expected Meralco to cancel plans for the Atimonan plant as well, citing the decision of a major bank to pull funding from both the Subic and Atimonan projects.[26]
The December 2020 Philippines Department of Energy report of committed power stations listed a target operation date of 2024 for Unit 1, but now lists the target date for Unit 2 as "TBD". The report states that delays are due to the plant's ongoing failure to secure a power service agreement with the government after the 2019 Supreme Court ruling (see below).[27] The March 2021 Philippines Department of Energy report pushed back the target completion date of Unit 1 to 2025; Unit 2 remains "TBD".[28]
As of June 2022 there had been no progress on the plant in more than two years, and the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice reported that it is stalled.[29] The project appears to be shelved. In August 2022 documents, target testing, commissioning and operating dates were removed.[30] The DOE's list of projects for December 2022 again listed the plant with a note that it was being considered for a switch to gas.[31]
As of April 2023, the Philippine DoE still listed the plant as a committed power project, along with the note that in February 2023, Meralco (the parent company) had presented the DoE with a "plan to change the technology from coal to natural-gas fired combined cycle gas turbine, and [a request for] the DOE's Clearance to Undertake System Impact Study with NGCP." [32]
Following news of the plant's change in power source, a news article reported that while the proposed coal-fired plant did "not push through amid lack of a power supply agreement and opposition from environmental groups," Atimonan One Energy Inc now plans to amend "the environmental compliance certificate for the transmission line issued for the previously proposed coal plant on May 27, 2016" [33]
According to reporting from early September 2024, Meralco PowerGen was seeking certification from the Department of Energy (DOE) that the previously proposed coal units were not affected by the 2020 moratorium on new coal plants. Meralco’s chairman reportedly stated that “the inclination is to stay with coal” for the power plant, rather than switch to LNG as planned in 2023.[34]
In late September 2024, the DOE's newest document of committed power projects in Luzon listed the proposal under "natural gas", with "request to revert back the technology of project to coal".[35]
Reporting in November 2024 announced that Meralco PowerGen's CEO had received expressions of interest from four local banks and two Indonesian lenders to finance the construction of two coal-fired units at the Atimonan power station, along with an 80 MW expansion of the Toledo City power station.[36] According to the announcement, the company expected the coal-fired units to be exempt from the Philippines' 2020 moratorium on new coal plants due to its inclusion in previous DOE lists of committed power projects.[36][37] If approved, the proponent may still need to seek new clearances to bring the proposal up to date with current standards.
Supreme Court ruling delays construction
In May 2019 the Supreme Court of the Philippines ruled that all power supply deals entered into after June 30, 2015 must undergo a Competitive Selection Process (CSP). The case stemmed from a petition filed by the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas Inc. against the ERC, the DOE, and several power distribution utilities, including Meralco, in 2016. The decision will delay construction of the Atimonan plant as it undergoes a CSP.[38][39]
Opposition
In June 2015, more than 1,500 protesters, led by church leaders, staged a march and a prayer vigil in opposition to the project. The protest, which was named "Lakad-Dasal-Bibliya para sa Kalikasan (roughly translated: "Bible prayer walk for nature") began with a march in which participants circled the town, then stopped in front of the municipal hall before continuing to Our Lady of the Angels Parish Church. At the church, the protesters heard speeches, performed dances and songs, and then held an overnight vigil.[40]
In October 2017, activists rallied in front of the Bank of the Philippine Islands office in Ayala Triangle to protest its financing of the Atimonan coal plant. “Coal is not the answer to our country’s energy needs,” said Philippine Movement for Climate Justice Coordinator Ian Rivera. “Contrary to the coal industry’s persisting propaganda, coal is neither cheap nor clean. In fact, it has time and again been proven to be dirty, costly, and deadly.”[41]
In November 2019 activists filed a petition with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to cancel the Environmental Compliance Certificate for the plant due to “breaches to environmental and community education requisites," including cutting of coconut trees without a permit and failure to conduct a Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) program about the plant's impacts.[42]
In September 2020, environmental activists rallied around a Philippine diocese in Quezon province demanding the government stop the construction of new coal-fired plants in the area as it is inconsistent with the efforts to mitigate climate change.[43] Bishop Mel Rey Uy of Lucena released a statement, signed by over 100 members of the clergy, on Tuesday, September 1, 2020, calling for plans for the proposed power plants to be scrapped.[43]
In 2020, Meralco announced that due to health and safety issues posed by the coronavirus outbreak it had temporarily stopped pre-construction "site activities" on various power projects, including at the Atimonan plant.[44] Site work resumed in June 2020 as the Philippine government relaxed quarantine measures in Luzon.[45]
October 2020 moratorium on greenfield coal plants
On October 27, 2020 the Philippine Department of Energy imposed a moratorium on the construction of new or "greenfield" power plants, meaning those which have yet to begin construction.[46] Meralco subsequently confirmed that its planned greenfield coal plants were cancelled.[47] In November 2020 DOE Secretary Alfonso Cusi clarified that projects listed as "indicative" by the DOE would still be considered and might still be developed.[48]
Despite previous statements, a news article in November 2022 quoted Meralco executives as affirming that "the project was not covered by the coal ban imposed under the term of former Energy Secretary" and that "the moratorium would not affect the Atimonan project as it secured the Department of Energy’s approval as a committed coal project" [49]
Financing
A 2018 news reports state that the Atimonan power station had secured a preliminary financing deal with eight local banks for a Php107.5b (US$2.1b) loan.[50][51] According to BankTrack, known funders of the Atimonan power station include ESB International, the World Bank through local bank Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), Bank of the Philippine Islands, and Philippine National Bank.[52]
In December 2020, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) committed to stop financing new coal-fired power stations.[53] In April 2021, a spokesperson for the Power for People Coalition in the Philippines stated that a US$$1.056 billion loan from Bank of the Philippine Islands "did not push through."[54]
In 2017, the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice lodged a formal complaint against the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for its involvement in Philippine coal-fired power stations. The complaint alleged that the IFC had funded these projects through its financial support to Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC). The Atimonan power station was one of 11 power stations for which the IFC's involvement was found to be sufficient to trigger the IFC's internal accountability process.[55]
LNG Power Station
As of April 2023, Atimonan One Energy Inc. (A1E), a subsidiary of Meralco PowerGen Corp., had dropped its plan to build a coal-fired power plant in Quezon province and would instead construct a 2,400 MW combined cycle gas turbine power project and a LNG terminal with floating storage. The power plant would be constructed in two phases of 1,200 MW each phase[33]. So far, only plans for the first 1,280 MW have been announced and are seeking approvals. A1E aims to begin construction of phase 1 of the project within the third quarter of 2023. Phase 1 is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2026. The power output will be transmitted to the Luzon grid via a 23-kilometer, 500-kV transmission line to the New Pagbilao substation[33]. In March 2023, the project was approved to undertake the System Impact Study on the national grid by the Department of Energy[56].
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20231015172339/http://www.doe.gov.ph/sites/default/files/pdf/electric_power/Annex-A-SIS-Summary-January-to-August-2023.PDF. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2023.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 https://web.archive.org/web/20230416142458/https://manilastandard.net/business/power-technology/314321964/atimonan-switches-to-2400-mw-lng-plant.html. Archived from the original on 16 April 2023.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20230511211108/http://www.doe.gov.ph/sites/default/files/pdf/electric_power/annex-a-coe-to-ngcp-01-jan-april-2023_clearance-to-undertake-sis.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 May 2023.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20230506161101/http://www.doe.gov.ph/sites/default/files/pdf/electric_power/06_Luzon%20Indicative%20-%202023-03-31.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 06 May 2023.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|archive-date=(help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20231004133700/https://www.doe.gov.ph/sites/default/files/pdf/electric_power/private_sector_initiated_power_projects/06_Luzon-Indicative-July-2023.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 04 October 2023.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|archive-date=(help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 https://web.archive.org/web/20240614161341/https://www.bworldonline.com/corporate/2024/03/12/581070/meralco-unit-pursues-atimonan-gas-conversion-project/. Archived from the original on 14 June 2024.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 https://web.archive.org/web/20240614161248/https://manilastandard.net/?p=314321964. Archived from the original on 14 June 2024.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ John Bello, "SP okays 3rd coal-fired plant in Quezon," BusinessMirror, 19 February 2015
- ↑ Diarmaid Williams, Philippines set for 23 new coal-fired power plants," Power Engineering, 30 June 2015
- ↑ "Meralco searching for partners for 1,200 MW Quezon coal plant," Rappler, November 29, 2015
- ↑ Victor V. Saulon, "Meralco: More guidance on energy mix," BusinessWorld Online, February 28, 2016
- ↑ "Meralco to seal partnership for $2-B Atimonan project this year," Resaph, Sep 15, 2016
- ↑ Meralco to raise P110 billion for Quezon coal plant, Business Mirror, 7 Mar. 2017.
- ↑ MGen receives proposals for Atimonan power project, Manila Times, 27 Apr. 2017.
- ↑ Meralco PowerGen inks 10-year deal with Irish firm for O&M of Atimonan plant, The Philippine Star, Dec. 25, 2017
- ↑ ERC non-committal on approval of Meralco supply deals, Manila Bulletin, Feb. 13, 2018
- ↑ Meralco to proceed with construction of Atimonan coal plant, The Philippine Star, Oct. 31, 2018
- ↑ Gov’t urged to expedite approval of power supply deals, Philippine News Agency, Apr. 30, 2019
- ↑ MGen submits land plan for Atimonan coal power plant, PhilStar, Apr. 3, 2019
- ↑ Averting a potential power crisis, PhilStar, Jul. 10, 2019
- ↑ Bayan Muna says power supply bidding rigged in favor of Meralco plant, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Oct. 31, 2019
- ↑ Meralco urged to open 2nd CSP to all power plants, The Philippine Star, Nov. 1, 2019
- ↑ PRIVATE SECTOR INITIATED POWER PROJECTS (LUZON) COMMITTED, Philippine Department of Energy, 31 Aug., 2019
- ↑ Meralco eyes 3,000 MW capacity, PhilStar, May 28, 2020
- ↑ Alena Mae S. Flores, Redondo Peninsula drops 660-MW Subic coal project, Manila Standard, Apr. 28, 2021
- ↑ Gabriel Pabico Lalu, Cancelled coal-fired power plant project in Subic a victory for clean energy — eco groups, Inquirer, Apr. 30, 2021
- ↑ PRIVATE SECTOR INITIATED POWER PROJECTS (LUZON) COMMITTED, Philippine Department of Energy, Dec. 31, 2020
- ↑ LUZON COMMITTED POWER PROJECTS, Philippines Department of Energy, Mar. 31, 2021
- ↑ Communication with Philippine Movement for Climate Justice, July 4, 2022
- ↑ LUZON COMMITTED POWER PROJECTS, Philippine Department of Energy, Aug. 31, 2022
- ↑ LUZON COMMITTED POWER PROJECTS, Philippine Department of Energy, Dec. 31, 2022
- ↑ LUZON COMMITTED POWER PROJECTS, Philippine Department of Energy, April 17, 2023
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 Alena Mae S. Flores, Atimonan switches to 2,400-MW LNG plant, Manila Standard, Apr. 16, 2023
- ↑ “Meralco unit seeks DOE certification on target to rejoin ‘king coal league’ for Atimonan plant,” Manila Bulletin, September 9, 2024
- ↑ LUZON COMMITTED POWER PROJECTS, Philippine Department of Energy, Posted: September 23, 2024
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 MGen to spend $2 billion for expansion, PhilStar, November 28, 2024
- ↑ Meralco awaits approval for 2 coal plants, Business Inquirer, November 28, 2024
- ↑ SC decision to delay construction of Atimonan coal power plant, says Meralco, GMA News Online, May 28, 2019
- ↑ SC says power supply agreements must undergo competitive bidding, Inquirer.net, May 8, 2019
- ↑ "Quezon townsfolk cry: Enough of coal power plants," Inquirer.net, 6 June 2015
- ↑ Activists protest financing of coal projects, Business Mirror, 5 Oct 2017.
- ↑ Green groups, Quezon locals file petition vs Atimonan coal plant ECC, Nov. 27, 2019
- ↑ 43.0 43.1 43.2 Philippine diocese, activists oppose coal power plants, Vatican News, 20 Sep 2020.
- ↑ Meralco unit stops work on power projects, Manila Bulletin, Mar. 27, 2020
- ↑ MGen resumes construction of power plants, BusinessWorld, Jun. 5, 2020
- ↑ Jordeene B. Lagare, DoE issues ban on new coal plants, Manila Times, Oct. 28, 2020
- ↑ Lenie Lectura, Major coal players to abide by D.O.E. ban on ‘new’ projects, Business Mirror, Oct. 29, 2020
- ↑ Philippines mulls ban on greenfield coal-fired plants, IJ Global, Nov. 5, 2020
- ↑ Alena Flores, MGen wants Atimonan to secure Meralco deal, Manila Standard, Nov. 6, 2022
- ↑ Meralco may turn Atimonan coal plant into merchant facility, Business Mirror, Oct. 31, 2018
- ↑ Philippine utility Meralco hunts for partners for Atimonan coal-fired plant, Asian Power, 2018, Accessed Oct. 19, 2021
- ↑ Five Years Lost: How Finance is Blowing the Paris Carbon Budget, BankTrack, 2020, p. 50
- ↑ Philippine bank RCBC to stop lending for new coal-fired power projects, Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, Dec. 11, 2020
- ↑ Green energy group hopeful Meralco will exit Atimonan coal project, CNN Philippines, Apr. 30, 2021
- ↑ CAO ASSESSMENT REPORT Regarding Concerns in Relation to IFC’s Investment in Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) – 01 (#30235, #32853, #34115, #37489) in the Philippines, IFC Compliance Advisor Ombudsman, April 2019
- ↑ "List of Generation Projects issued with Clearance to Undertake System Impact (SIS) to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines: January to April 2023" (PDF). Republic of the Philippines Department of Energy. April 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
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Additional data
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