Press Release: ERC renews COC of SEM-Calaca Power Plant
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) renewed on 15 November 2010 the Certificate of Compliance (COC) of SEM-Calaca Power Corporation’s (SCPC) two unit Coal-fired Thermal Power Plant that has an aggregate capacity of 631.12 MW and located in Brgy. San Rafael, Calaca, Batangas. The ERC approved the COC’s renewal after an inspection and evaluation revealed the plant’s continued compliance to technical, financial, safety and environmental standards. The COC renewal is valid for five years.
On 18 October 2005, the plant was issued a COC when it was still owned by the National Power Corporation (NPC). In 02 December 2009, the plant was bought by DMCI Holdings, Inc. through an Asset Purchase Agreement (APA) with the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) – the government agency tasked under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) to manage, privatize and dispose of all existing generation assets, liabilities, real estate and other disposable resources of the National Power Corporation (NPC).
A COC is required before any generation company can commence commercial operations. It also ensures that a power plant will not compromise the health and safety of communities where it operates. Moreover, the COC ascertains that the owner of the power plant will strictly adhere with the cross-ownership and market share limitations stated in the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) towards the prevention of market power abuse. Application and approval of a COC is based on the Guidelines for the Issuance of Certificate of Compliance for Generation Companies/Facilities, as amended. Under the Revised Rules for the issuance of a COC which took effect on 24 April 2010, an application for a renewal of a COC must be filed at least six (6) months prior to its expiration.
“The ERC is glad that the power plant operated by SCPC in Calaca, Batangas remains to be compliant to the standards in providing safe, adequate and steady supply of electricity to the consumers. It is hoped that other power providers like SCPC will continue to be a reliable source of power in the areas where they operate,” ERC chairperson and CEO Zenaida G. Cruz-Ducut said.
November 23, 2010