Meralco PowerGen Corp. hopes the Department of Energy will decide by mid-June on its request for an exemption from the coal ban for the 1,200-megawatt Atimonan ultra-supercritical coal-fired power plant.

MERALCO POWERGEN CORP. (MGen), the power generation unit of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), said it is on track to operate its gas-fired power plants in Batangas at full capacity of 2,500 megawatts (MW) by the end of the month.

Desco Inc. is preparing for exploratory well drilling in the Iriga geothermal project in Camarines Sur by the middle of the year, its joint venture partner said.

LOPEZ-LED First Gen Corp. is eyeing to build additional liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals outside Batangas to meet rising power demand, a company official said.

MANILA, Philippines — The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has approved the two transmission projects of National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) worth over P32 billion.

The Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association, Inc. (PHILRECA) has expressed its support for the proposal to eliminate the multiple value-added tax (VAT) on electricity, which is expected to result in lower power rates for consumers.

INCOMING LAWMAKERS should prioritize measures that would prioritize energy security, particularly amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) and reforms that would enhance the powers of key regulatory bodies, according to analysts.

The race to renewable energy (RE) integration continues, as the Department of Energy (DOE) has approved five clean energy projects for system impact studies (SIS).

ALTERNERGY HOLDINGS CORP. expects to commission 225 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy capacity this year, according to its president.

JOHN REX O. GAVALES, a 22-year-old entrepreneur from Bulacan province north of the Philippine capital, bought his Chinese-made BYD Seagull electric car last year to replace his diesel-based hatchback amid high fuel prices.