Mitsubishi Power eyes Philippine expansion through new plants and upgrades
The Japanese energy company already supports more than a quarter of Philippine installed capacity, including the Ilijan facility in Batangas.
New generating projects and upgrades to operating facilities are central to Mitsubishi Power’s pursuit of further business in the Philippines as electricity needs grow, according to Akihiro Ondo, managing director and CEO of Mitsubishi Power Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd.
Ondo told The Philippine Star that the group aims to provide equipment and services for additional gas and renewable generation. He said servicing existing plants and upgrading their equipment could also help make electricity supply more stable, especially in Luzon.
The company’s Philippine activities include support for the 1,200-megawatt Ilijan gas-fired facility in Batangas. In June, it signed an agreement covering long-term parts supply and servicing with LNGPH, the multibillion-dollar gas venture backed by Manuel V. Pangilinan, Ramon Ang and Sabin Aboitiz.
That contract is intended to maintain reliable operations at Ilijan. Its scope covers repairs, technical advice and the provision of hot and spare parts for the plant’s M501G gas turbines.
For new capacity, Ondo highlighted geothermal steam turbines alongside combined-cycle gas turbine technology. Combined-cycle plants generate power from both gas and steam. He said modern versions could deliver greater output with lower carbon dioxide emissions for each electricity unit, and pointed to their importance as the Philippines prepares for further data centre investment.
