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By Euan Paulo C. Añonuevo Reporter
THE majority of prospective
bidders that earlier expressed interest in the Ambuklao-Binga
hydroelectric power plants followed through, as 10 attended the
prebidding conference for the plant, which the state-run Power
Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (Psalm) will auction
off in November.
The investor groups that attended
Wednesday’s prebidding conference include SN Aboitiz Power, Inc.,
Suez Tractebel S.A., State Investment Trust, Inc., Itogon Power
Generation Corp., Ramcar Inc., Sta. Clara Power Corp., AES Ambuklao
and Binga Pte. Ltd., First Gen Northern Energy, Marubeni Philippines
Corp. and Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc.
Psalm, which is tasked to
privatize the government’s power assets, will bid out the
75-megawatt Ambuklao and 100-megawatt Binga facilities as one
package on November 28.
Only one of the 11 groups that
earlier expressed interest in the power complex failed to attend the
prebid meeting, which was held to give the interested bidders the
opportunity to clarify issues and concerns about the bid transaction
documents.
Psalm said the final version of
these documents, which will include issues raised during the prebid
conference, will be released on November 8.
The state-run firm earlier said
that it is in close coordination with the National Power Corp.,
Department of Environment and Natural Resources, National Commission
on Indigenous Peoples and other government agencies to resolve
specific issues underlying the sale of the plants. The settlement of
land issues is a critical concern for investors and will impact on
the successful privatization of these plants.
Aside from the Ambuklao-Binga
plants, Psalm is also set to auction off the 600-megawatt coalfired
Calaca thermal power plant in Batangas province on October16, the
192.5-megawatt Palinpinon geothermal plant in Negros Oriental and
the 146.5-megawatt Panay diesel plant in Iloilo province on December
5, and the country’s lone transmission grid on December 12.
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