The Department of Energy (DoE), in a Sept. 30 advisory, identified prequalified participants covering 14 proposed bids for the auction, which seeks to secure 3,840 megawatts (MW) of natural gas-fired generation capacity.
Prime Infra, which acquired a controlling stake in the natural gas assets of Lopez-led First Gen Corp. last year, is seeking to offer a combined 2,520 MW from four power plants.
These include the 1,000-MW Sta. Rita, 600-MW Sta. Maria, 500-MW San Lorenzo, and 420-MW San Gabriel combined-cycle natural gas power plants.
Prime Infra acquired a 60% stake in First Gen’s natural gas assets for P50 billion last year.
Meanwhile, LNGPH is backed by Meralco PowerGen Corp., Aboitiz Power Corp., and San Miguel Global Power Holdings Corp.
The three energy companies entered into a $3.3-billion agreement last year involving an integrated liquefied natural gas facility in Batangas.
Through Excellent Energy Resources, Inc., the consortium is seeking to offer capacity from the Batangas Combined Cycle Power Plant Phase 2, Iloilo Combined Cycle Power Plant, and a proposed natural gas facility in the Visayas.
LNGPH President and Chief Executive Officer Yari A. Miralao said the government had moved the bid submission deadline from Oct. 31 this year to the first quarter of 2027.
“The government issued a supplementary bid saying that the bid submission deadline has been moved from Oct. 31 of this year to the first quarter of next year,” Mr. Miralao told reporters on Wednesday.
He earlier said new natural gas-fired power plants were expected to begin operations over the next six years.
Other prequalified participants include Cordova Power Generation Corp., which is proposing natural gas-fired projects in Luzon, Cebu, and Panay.