Aboitiz confirms 46-MW diesel facility​ grid disconnection

Aboitiz Power Corp., the holding company for the Aboitiz Group’s energy-related investments, has confirmed the disconnection of 46 megawatts (MW) of diesel-fired facilities in Cebu from the national grid.

In a disclosure made on Wednesday, AboitizPower said that its subsidiary, Therma Power-Visayas, Inc. (TPVI), received confirmation from the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) regarding the disconnection of the 44.640 MW Naga Oil-Fired Power Plant and the 0.440 MW Black Start Diesel Engine Generating Unit.

The two power units, located at the Naga Power Plant Complex in Barangay Colon, Naga City, Cebu, are part of the 153.1-MW Naga Power Plant Complex.

The disconnection followed NGCP’s procedural guidelines and is expected to impact operations at the facility.

"The decommissioning was pursued in view of the technical and operational issues of the plant caused mainly by the advanced age of the diesel engines," the company said earlier.

AboitizPower had previously announced that the decision to decommission the plants, effective 31 March, was driven by the technical and operational difficulties resulting from the aging engines.

TPVI, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AboitizPower through Therma Power Inc., acquired the Naga Power Plant Complex from Salcon Power Corp. on 16 July 2018.

Since the acquisition, TPVI has undertaken efforts to rehabilitate, operate, and maintain the facility.