Aboitiz Power seeks more coal from Indonesia

Philippine firm Aboitiz Power Corp. is seeking to import more coal, including from Indonesia, as fuel for its proposed 600-MW new coal-fired power plant in the Phillippines

?The 600-MW power project construction plan has been approved by the Philippine government,? the company?s official told Petromindo.Com.

The project is expected to be commissioned in mid 2013. Once fully commercial operated, the power plant needs around 1 million tonnes of coal per annum.

The company is expecting to get new Indonesian coal suppliers under long-term contract. ?We?re scouting now,? the official said.

Currently, Indonesian coal miners are main suppliers to its 700-MW Pagbilao coal-fired power plant.

The 700-MW Pagbilao power plant needs 1.3-1.6 million tons per annum of coal to power its turbine. The company has bagged 5-year contract with East Kalimantan's coal miner PT Kideco Jaya Agung, starting January 2010 with volume of up to 900,000 tons per year.

The other supplier was PT Arutmin Indonesia, which supplied the remaining volume of up to 500,000 tons in 2011. Arutmin has supplied to Pagbilao since March 2010 and the supply contract will end by the end of 2011.

The company is also planning to expand its Pagbilao power plant from 700-MW currently to 1,000-1,100 MW. But the plan has not yet approved by the Philippine government, the official added. (denny)