Sual, soon to be known as “Energy City”
SUAL—This town is earning a new moniker – the emerging energy city in the country.
This is beginning to make the rounds after it was reported that Sual will host another 600- megawatt (MW) power plant to be operated by the Trans- Asia Oil and Energy Development Corporation (TAOEVC) with about US$ 1-billion investment.
Mayor Roberto Arcinue said he is “very positive” the project will be realized soon as negotiations are already in its final stage. “This will make Sual really an energy city,” he said.
TAOEVC is headed by former energy secretary Francisco Viray, a Pangasinense.
The modern circulating fluidized bed coal fired power plant will be built in Barangay Baquioen and has undergone public hearings “with zero objection,” the mayor said.
“People saw the benefits gained from the power plant built in 1995 here now being handled by TeaM Energy in Barangay Pangascasan so barangay folks in Bacquioen welcomed the new power plant project,” Mr. Arcinue added.
Barangay Bacquioen was the original proposed site of the 1,218- MW Sual coal-fired power plant with US 1.2-billion investment but it was transferred to Pangascasan because of public opposition then.
Mr. Arcinue said Sual has a deep water level similar to Subic Bay which is ideal for easy unloading of coal. He said the project operators could build a port near the power plant.
He added that Sual is a special economic zone based on a law enacted in 1995 by then President Fidel Ramos.
Once the project is built, he said this will not only be beneficial to the town and the province but for the entire country.
The coal-fired power plant will have an initial capacity of 600 MW which may later be expanded to a maximum of 900 MW, Arcinue said.
“I am very positive it will be done,” he added. (Tita Roces)
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