Santa Rita Gas Fired Power Plant to be at Full Capacity with New Transformer

Manila — The Gas Fired-Santa Rita Power Plant will soon be operating at full capacity, following the delivery of a new 318 MVA transformer from China, according to the First Gen Corporation.

Based in a disclosure with the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) Friday, First Gas Power Corporation (FGPC), a subsidiary of First Gen Corporation, has received its order of a 318 MVA transformer, shipped at the Batangas City Port from Shanghai, China. It will replace the former’s damaged transformer in the power plant’s Unit 40.

A power capacity amounting to 250 MW will be added to the Luzon grid, after the complete installation and commissioning of the transformer.

The Santa Rita power plant’s operator, Siemens Power Operations Inc., also handled the delivery of the equipment into the country.

Previously, the Santa Rita Power Plant suffered an electrical supply loss of 250 MW from the damage in its transformer occurring in February.

The Unit 40 is one of the four power plant’s units, which harnesses a capacity of 250 MW each, totalling a 1000 MW power plant supply.

Moreover, Santa Rita sells its power capacity to the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) through a power purchase agreement.

On the other hand, the plant feeds natural gas into its units, coming from Malampaya’s supply in Northwest Palawan.

The Santa Rita Power Plant ran on liquid fuel during its inception in August 2000. However, the company shifted towards utilization of the natural gas coming from Malampaya in 2002.

First Gas Power Corporation is a full subsidiary of the Lopez-led First Gen Corporation. The company’s sole project is the Santa Rita power plant.

First Gen Corporation is among the largest Independent Power Producers (IPP) in the country, harnessing 2,763 MWs power from indigenous, clean or renewable energy.

Similarly, First Gen Corporation is under the First Philippine Holdings (FPH) Corporation, through its stake in the former, which is also controlled by the Lopez family.

On July 3, FPH implemented an extension on the buy-back program on the company’s shares until July 2016. (PNA) LGI/JLD

Image Credit: www.mb.com.ph