Balingasag power station

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Balingasag power station is an operating power station of at least 165-megawatts (MW) in Mandangoa, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Philippines.

Location

Table 1: Project-level location details

Plant name	Location	Coordinates (WGS 84)
Balingasag power station	Mandangoa, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Philippines	8.766, 124.767 (exact)

The map below shows the exact location of the power station.

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Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):

• Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3: 8.766, 124.767

Project Details

Table 2: Unit-level details

Unit name	Status	Fuel(s)	Capacity (MW)	Technology	Start year
Unit 1	operating	coal: unknown	55	CFB	2017
Unit 2	operating	coal: unknown	55	CFB	2017
Unit 3	operating	coal: unknown	55	CFB	2017

Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details

Unit name	Owner	Parent
Unit 1	Mindanao Energy Systems Inc [100%]	Cagayan Electric Power & Light Co Inc [60.0%]; Vivant Corp [40.0%]
Unit 2	Mindanao Energy Systems Inc [100%]	Cagayan Electric Power & Light Co Inc [60.0%]; Vivant Corp [40.0%]
Unit 3	Mindanao Energy Systems Inc [100%]	Cagayan Electric Power & Light Co Inc [60.0%]; Vivant Corp [40.0%]

Background on Project

In September 2017 Minergy Coal Corporation, a subsidiary of Cayagan Electric Power & Light (CEPALCO), commissioned a three-unit coal-fired power plant with total capacity of 165 MW in Misamis Oriental Province. Total cost of the project was slated to be P14.5 billion, or $330 million. CEPALCO began pursuing the project in 2002. The project was initially for two 55-MW units, with the option to build a third; CEPALCO decided to move ahead with all three units in 2014.

An application for environmental permits was submitted in June 2013. In February 2014, CEPALCO signed a construction contract with Mitsubishi|Mitsubishi Corporation and Toshiba|Toshiba Plant Systems & Services Corporation. Construction is scheduled to be completed in March 2017.

The Vivant Corporation bought a 40% share in the project in May 2014. Construction was 98% complete as of the end of 2016. The power plant began operating in September of 2017.

Satellite imagery from Planet shows construction progress from January 2016 to March 2018.

Financing

• Source of financing: US$58,098,363 in equity from Vivant; debt financing from various banks

Financial close for units 1 and 2 was reached in January 2014, and financial close for unit 3 was reached in May 2014. Financing was secured from various banks. However, details about the debt financing are not available. Vivant contributed P2.8 billion in equity towards the project.

Environmental Impact

Residents complained about environmental and health impacts of the plant after it went into operation in September 2017, including "asthma, LBM, dizziness, sore eyes and vertigo." Residents have also complained that warm water being emitted by the plant is killing marine life near the plant. According to Vice Governor Joey Pelaez, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Northern Mindanao will attempt to determine the causes of fish kills in the area. As of May 2021, the power plant does not appear to have adjusted any of its operating procedures in response to these complaints.

In December 2021, a report of ongoing pollution was brought to the Provincial Board of Misamis Oriental. Residents reported that the sea water was warming and fish were unusually dying as a result of pipes from the plant. There were also colloquial reports of visible ash in the air, health concerns and low agricultural production related to the power station.

Opposition

In Mangangoa, Balingasag town of the Philippines, the Provincial Board of Miamis Oriental conducted a public hearing where residents were able to express complaints against the Balingasag power plant nearby on December 6, 2017. Residents complained about unusual warming of the seawater that was allegedly killing fish in the area, foul odor and loud noises from the power plant, mountains of ashes from the plant’s stock pile, and an increase in health problems and low agricultural productivity in rice paddies. Though these complaints started in September 2017, the Board claims that no one has addressed these concerns, especially the company in charge of the Balingasag power plant, called Minergy.

In November 2017, the New People’s Army (NPA) was supposedly going to target the Balingasag power plant. The Philippine National Police (PNP) subsequently stepped up security around the power plant.

Articles and Resources

Additional data

To access additional data, including an interactive map of coal-fired power stations, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.