Philippines: Meralco evaluating participation in Repower hydro projects

Philippines: Meralco evaluating participation in Repower hydro projects

MANILA Electric Co. (Meralco) has the option to participate in the next
project of Repower Energy Development Corp. after the partners broke ground
on two run-of-river mini-hydropower plants in the past six months.

"There are projects that Repower is also looking into and we have the right
of first refusal to join them," said Alfredo S. Panlilio, Meralco senior
vice-president on Friday on the sidelines of BusinessWorld's Economic Forum
at Shangri-La at the Fort in Taguig City.

"We're supposed to meet again on the other projects," said Mr. Panlilio, who
is also chairman of Pure Meridian Hydropower Corp. "We're supposed to have a
board meeting and review the other projects."

Pure Meridian, Meralco's joint venture company with Repower, broke ground on
a 3-megawatt (mW) run-of-river hydro project in Lalawinan, Quezon province.

The first project, the 10.6-MW Pulanai, Bukidnon mini-hydro project, had its
groundbreaking in December 2016. The Lalawinan plant is Meralco's first
foray in run-of-river hydropower on Luzon.

Lalawinan is Repower's third hydropower groundbreaking so far this year. The
hydropower unit of Pure Energy. earlier said it was aiming to break ground
on two more hydropower projects this year, and 15 more in the next three
years.

"They presented ... about five, the last time. We did some assessments. We
might not involve ourselves there," Mr. Panlilio said, describing these as
small projects.

"But we're looking at others," he added.

He said the projects previously presented to Meralco were similar in size to
Lalawinan but the decision not be part of these were because of their
viability "based on our assessment."

"We will continue to work with them as Pure Meridian because we're really
committed to expand our renewable portfolio," he said.

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Link to Original Article:
http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Economy&title=Meralco-evalua
ting-participation-in-Repower-hydro-projects&id=145492

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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com