MGEN Thermal has brought back the third unit of its Panay Energy Development Corp. (PEDC) coal-fired power plant ahead of schedule, restoring a key source of electricity for Panay and parts of the Visayas.

In a statement on Thursday, the company said PEDC successfully synchronized Unit 3 of its 278.4-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant in Iloilo City to the grid, completing its recovery after an equipment failure in May.

The unit returned to service earlier than the previously announced recovery timeline following what the company described as an intensive engineering and restoration program focused on safety, technical rigor, and operational excellence.

Successful return

“The successful return of PEDC Unit 3 reflects the strength of our engineering capabilities, disciplined execution, and the dedication of our people and partners.

Apart from restoring generating capacity, this recovery has further strengthened our engineering governance and asset management practices, enabling us to continue delivering safe, reliable, and dependable power to the communities and industries we serve,” MGEN Thermal president and chief executive officer Arnel L. Santos said.

The recovery involved engineering assessments, forensic investigation, equipment repairs, extensive testing, and coordination with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, original equipment manufacturers, independent technical experts, and contractors before the unit was cleared to resume operations.

MGEN Thermal said PEDC will continue monitoring the unit's performance while completing the remaining engineering enhancements identified during the restoration.