Baquioen power station

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Baquioen power station is a 900-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant proposed in Pangasinan Province, the Philippines.

Location

The map below shows the location of Barangay Baquioen in Sual Municipality, the approximate location where the plant is proposed, in Pangasinan Province. The 1,218-MW Sual power station is visible to the north.

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Background on Project

According to a November 2015 article in the Manila Times, a memorandum of agreement (MOA) was signed between Trans Asia Oil and Energy Development Corporation and the local government of Sual to build a 900 MW coal plant in the coastal village of Barangay Baquioen. Francisco Viray Jr., president of Trans Asia Oil and Energy Development, was president of the National Power Corporation during the administration of President Fidel V. Ramos. Viray announced that a term of the MOA is the offer of scholarship grants to students of Sual at the University of Pangasinan, owned by Trans Asia Oil’s mother company Phinma. Viray told the Manila Times that an Environmental Impact Assessment is now already being conducted, the result of which will be the basis for the issuance of Environment Clearance Certificate (ECC) by the DENR. However, the EIA was temporarily stopped until the completion of a feasibility study. Sual Mayor Roberto Llamas Arcinue said two pubic hearings were already held regarding the power plant, one in the town proper and another in Baquioen, and that all those who attended welcomed the coming in of Trans Asia Oil. Viray promised that Trans Asia will give a grant Sual Municipality P110 million for education, environment, agriculture and a municipal seaport for local fishermen. Viray said Barangay Baquioen would receive a grant of P10 million for development projects.

In November 2016 Sual Mayor Roberto Arcinue said he was anticipating support from the President for the plant, and anticipated construction would start during the first quarter of 2017.

In February 2017, Phinma announced it was deferring the project. Phinma stated that the deferment was due to oversupply of power in Luzon, and that the company might revisit the project in 2020-2025. Former Sual Vice Mayor Alex Rigonan, a project opponent and member of Save the Sual Movement, called the deferment a "victory of the people of Sual." Phinma stated that the deferment was due to oversupply of power in Luzon.

In January 2019 Trans-Asia signed a memorandum of understanding with KEPCO that turned the project over to KEPCO, which is planning to build the 1,000-MW Sual KEPCO Power Station at the site.

Opposition

According to Alexander Rigonan, former Vice Mayor of Sual town in Pangasinan province, a "silent majority" of residents feel the town already has enough pollution and oppose the construction of the plant.

Project Details

• Sponsor: Trans-Asia Oil & Energy Development
• Parent company: Phinma Group (formerly Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp.)
• Location: Barangay Baquioen, Sual Municipality, Pangasinan Province, Luzon, Philippines
• Coordinates: 16.091, 120.096 (approximate)
• Status: Cancelled
• Gross capacity: 900 MW
• Type: Subcritical
• Projected in service:
• Coal type:
• Coal source:
• Source of financing:

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