La Union power station
| Part of the Global Oil and Gas Plant Tracker, a Global Energy Monitor project. |
| Related categories: |
| Part of the Global Coal Plant Tracker, a Global Energy Monitor project. |
| Related coal trackers: |
La Union power station is a power station in Carisquis, Luna, La Union, Ilocos, Philippines with multiple units of varying statuses, none of which are currently operating. It is also known as Luna power station.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| La Union power station | Carisquis, Luna, La Union, Ilocos, Philippines | 16.835881, 120.342465 (exact) |
The map below shows the exact location of the power station.
Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):
- CC1, Unit 1, Unit 2: 16.835881, 120.342465
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] | fossil gas: LNG[1][3][4] | 1100[1][3][4] | combined cycle[1][3][4] | not found | 2030 (planned)[1][3][4] |
| Unit 1 | Cancelled | coal: unknown | 335 | unknown | – | – |
| Unit 2 | Cancelled | coal: unknown | 335 | unknown | – | – |
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 | Global Luzon Energy Development Corp [100%] | Manila Electric Co [100.0%] |
| Unit 1 | Global Luzon Energy Development Corp [100%] | Manila Electric Co [100.0%] |
| Unit 2 | Global Luzon Energy Development Corp [100%] | Manila Electric Co [100.0%] |
Project-level coal details
- Coal source(s): Indonesia and other countries
Background
It was reported in May 2016 that GT Capital Holdings Inc. owner George Ty would build a 2 x 335 MW plant in La Union. According to the report, the sponsor, Global Luzon Energy Development Corp., has signed an agreement with Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) for the output of the plant. Construction would begin in the third quarter of 2018 and operation would be in the first quarter of 2022. No environmental compliance certificate had been received.[5] Approval for further study of the project was issued in July 2016.[6]
Local elected officials generally supported the project. Luna Municipality mayor Victor Marvin Marron has stated that the project was "introduced properly by highly recognized engineers and scientists."[7]
As of 2016, there were reportedly plans to source coal for the plant from Indonesia and other countries.[8]
In November 2016, GT stated that it hoped to complete environmental permitting in early 2017, to begin construction in Q3 2018, and to bring the plant online in Q1 2022.[9] As of May 2017, GT was still waiting for approval by the Energy Regulatory Commission.[10]
In June 2017, GT awarded a contract for engineering services to Finnish firm Pöyry.[11]
In December 2017 GLDEC said construction of the project will start in the third quarter of 2018 after the Environmental Compliance Certificate will be issued. The company plans for the plant to be completed in the first quarter of 2021 and fully operational in the first quarter of 2022. The estimated cost of the project is P80 billion.[12]
In October 2018 the project was given an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) by the DENR.[13] Opponents of the plant protested that this permit had been issued without the required environmental impact statement (EIS).[13]
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.[14]
On October 27, 2020 the Philippines Department of Energy (DOE) imposed a moratorium on the construction of new or "greenfield" coal-fired power plants, meaning those which have yet to begin construction.[15] 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.[16]
As of November 2020 the project had not progressed in more than two years, and appears to be shelved. The project is still listed as indicative in the December 2020 Philippines Department of Energy report on initiated power projects, but the target completion date for both units is marked "TBD".[17] As of March 2022 the project does not appear on the DOE's list of power projects. With no progress in more than four years, it appears to be cancelled.
The Department of Energy report "Luzon Indicative Power Projects" published in March 2023[18], lists this project as "LNG-Fired Combined Cycle Power Plant" with installed capacity of 1100 MW. The target testing and commissioning date is marked as "TBD". The power station is planned to begin commercial operation in 2030. According to the document, some permits and requirements need to be amended or re-applied.
Opposition
In December 2016, the Koalisyon Isalbar ti Pintas ti La Union (Coalition to Save the Beauty of La Union) was formed to oppose the project. Project supporters have accused opponents of being "misinformed," given that "all concerns on health and environment issues will be addressed properly."[7][19] The Coalition raised concerns about the health and environmental impacts of the project at a December 2017 hearing and reiterated these concerns at a protest and prayer walk in March 2018.[20] The Coalition also object to the fact that, while the project received a majority of support of the residents in five villages around the proposed 41-hectare site, the views of residents of other nearby villages that would be affected by nitrous dioxide from the plant were "excluded or ignored."[20]
In July 2018 residents and environmental groups Save Luna and Koalisyon Isalbar ti Pintas ti La Union (Save the Beauty of La Union Coalition) staged a protest of the plant in San Fernando, La Union. Protestors claimed that local residents and a member of the technical review committee that reviewed proposals for the plant had been harassed and pressured to support the plants. Protestors also said that the plant's massive intake of seawater for its operations would deplete the local seabed of nutrients, and that the impact on global warming should have been considered as part of its environmental impact statement.[21]
In July 2019 the town of San Gabriel, La Union passed a resolution in opposition to the construction of coal-fired plants. San Gabriel is adjacent to the proposed site of the plant between the villages of Carisquis and Nalvo Sur.[22]
Meralco Acquisition
In December of 2020, Meralco PowerGen Corp. announced that it had purchased full ownership of Global Business Power Corp. (GBPC), the parent company of Panay Energy Development Corporation, for P34.466 billion (approx. 720 million USD). Meralco paid that sum to acquire an 86% stake in the company; Meralco already owned a 14% stake in GBPC. Meralco said the purchase price would be paid in installments: 60 percent at closing, 20 percent six months after and the remaining 20 percent after 18 months.[23]
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 (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) - ↑ (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) - ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 https://web.archive.org/web/20221128075247/https://powerphilippines.com/san-miguel-lng-projects-lead-new-ventures-endorsed-for-sis/. Archived from the original on 28 November 2022.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20221221061710/http://www.doe.gov.ph/sites/default/files/pdf/electric_power/05-luzon_indicative_lopsipp_31-august-2022.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 December 2022.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ Alena Mae S. Flores, "Coal plant rising in La Union," Manila Standard, May 24, 2016
- ↑ Private Sector Initiated Power Projects (Luzon) - Indicative, Philippines Department of Energy, 30 Apr. 2017.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 La Union folks oppose coal-fired power plant, Manila Bulletin, 10 Dec. 2016.
- ↑ EIS Summary for the Public in English, Global Luzon Development Corporation, November 2017
- ↑ GBPP to build La Union coal plant], Manila Standard, 24 Nov. 2016.
- ↑ GBPC plots Luzon, Mindanao expansion to double capacity, Philippine Star, 24 May 2017.
- ↑ Pöyry awarded engineering services assignment for EPC Selection of GLEDC's supercritical power plant in the Philippines, Pöyry press release, 5 June 2017.
- ↑ P80-B modern coal power plant to rise in La Union, Northbound Philippines, Dec. 13, 2017
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 DENR issues ECC for La Union coal plant project, Rappler, Nov. 3, 2018
- ↑ Averting a potential power crisis, PhilStar, Jul. 10, 2019
- ↑ Jordeene B. Lagare, DoE issues ban on new coal plants, Manila Times, Oct. 28, 2020
- ↑ Philippines mulls ban on greenfield coal-fired plants, IJ Global, Nov. 5, 2020
- ↑ PRIVATE SECTOR INITIATED POWER PROJECTS (LUZON) INDICATIVE, Philippine Department of Energy, Dec. 31, 2020
- ↑ "2023 Private Sector Initiated Power Projects (Indicative)" (PDF). Republic of the Philippines Department of Energy. March 31, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Coal-Free La Union, Facebook, accessed June 2017.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Big rally set vs P80-B coal-powered plant, Manila Times, Mar. 25, 2018
- ↑ Coal plant project in La Union sparks protests, Rappler, Jul. 28, 2018
- ↑ Another La Union town says no to coal plants, Living LaudatoSi', Jul. 24, 2019
- ↑ Alena Mae S. Flores, Meralco says sale price of GBPC is fair, reasonable, Manila Standard, Dec. 28, 2020
Additional data
To access additional data, including interactive maps of the power stations, downloadable datasets, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker and the Global Oil and Gas Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
