Winnergy Holdings Corp.

CA allows ERC to settle suits vs Meralco, AboitizPower

THE Court of Appeals (CA) has given the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) the go signal to hear and resolve anti competitive behavior and other unfair trade and practices against power distributor Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) and the subsidiaries of power firm Aboitiz Power Corp. in connection with the shutdown of the Malampaya gas facility, which affected…

AC Energy looking for more RE projects among neighbors

AC Energy, Ayala Corp.’s energy-holding company, is looking at more renewable-energy (RE) investment opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region to achieve a balanced mix of its renewables and thermal portfolios by 2025. In an interview, AC Energy President Eric Francia said the company would need to seal “a lot” of partnerships to achieve its goal—a 50-50 split…

2 firms keen on buying Malampaya gas

AT least two firms have formally expressed interest to participate in the public bidding of unused Malampaya natural gas, more known as banked gas. Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) Executive Assistant Jannefer Pelayo said on Wednesday one foreign firm and one local firm are interested to buy the banked gas comprising of 97.67 petajoules from the state…

Meralco-First NatGas power supply deal gets ERC go signal

THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has granted Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) and First NatGas Power Corp. (FNPC) the authority to implement their power supply agreement (PSA) in an “interim relief” that sets certain conditions. “In the event that the final rate is higher than that granted in the interim, the resulting additional charges shall be…

Meralco considers Isla Verde as site for 1st microgrid system

MANILA Electric Co. (Meralco) is looking at Isla Verde, an island in Batangas province within its franchise area, as a possible location for its first microgrid system, its president said. “We are working with the local government to energize [the island], to meet their requirements,” Meralco President and Chief Executive Officer Oscar S. Reyes told…

Meralco power sales dampened by cool weather

ELECTRICITY sales in June eased because of cooler weather, tempering power sales growth for the first half to around 6.5%, Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) said. “For the first five months year-to-date, (we had) growth of 7.5% per annum, but June is trending a little softer because, number one, the rains have started. It’s been cool…

Eastern Petroleum sees fuel prices turning higher

THE CHAIRMAN of Eastern Petroleum Corp. has warned that prices of petroleum products are set to rise this week after several weeks of reductions. In a statement on Sunday, Fernando L. Martinez, chairman and chief executive officer of Eastern Petroleum, said recent developments could have “positive” and “calming” effects in the world oil market. In…

Energy Regulatory Commission approves automation initiative to help achieve ‘zero backlog’

THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has approved an information technology project that will automate the processes involved in monitoring pending energy industry cases as part of the agency’s “zero backlog” program. In a resolution, the ERC approved what it calls the “ERC Web Portal For Interactive and Systematic Exchange” or eWISE on June 19, 2018,…

Palace signs law creating power co-op rehab fund

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has signed into law the bill creating the Electric Cooperatives Emergency and Resiliency Fund (ECERF), officials said. House Majority Leader Rodolfo C. Fariñas distributed on Tuesday copies of the letter sent by Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea to Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez, confirming the law’s signing on June 29. The law…

Safety rules not keeping up with waste-to-energy technology, expert says

PHILIPPINE LAW has not kept pace with developments in waste-to-energy technology, leaving communities surrounding these projects at risk from the pollutants they generate, which may cause cancer and other health problems, an energy technology expert said. “There are some safety issues with regard to the engineering of the technology itself,” said Jorge A. Emmanuel, Ph.D.,…

Daguma touts economic benefits of coal project

Daguma Agro Minerals Inc. —the concession holder of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) coal mining project in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato—remains hopeful that its operations can still proceed despite the rejection by the local council in a controversial vote, considering the project’s importance. In a statement, the company said the decision of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan…

Marine service provider buys energy company

Tugboat and marine service provider Harbor Star Shipping Services Inc. has diversified into the energy business with the acquisition of a controlling stake in a group of companies with interests in power generation and distribution in Mindanao. Harbor Star obtained its board’s approval to buy—through wholly owned subsidiary Harbor Star Energy Corp. (HSEC)—60 percent of…