These are Itochu Corporation with Neg Micon, Sumitomo Corporation with GE Wind, Marubeni Corporation with Mitsubushi Heavy Industries and Kanematsu Corporation with Nordex. 

Those vying for the transmission lines turnkey contract are Sumitomo Corporation and Marubeni Corporation.

The turnkey contract involves the construction of a 42-kilometer transmission line connecting the facility to Transco’s substation in Laoag; the construction of a switchyard at Burgos and the interconnection works at the Laoag substation to accommodate the power facility’s output. 

The six firms are required to submit their bids in October while awarding of contract to the winning bidder and construction will begin by first quarter next year.

Phase I of the project is being financed by the Japanese government under a special yen loan amounting to 5.857 billion yen . 

The entire North Luzon wind power project (NLWPP) has an estimated total capacity of 120 megawatts; and this is seen to be Southeast Asia’s biggest commercial wind farm. Two more phases, also with 40-megawatt capacity each, are due for implementation. 

“Once operational, the NLWPP will help increase the dependable capacity in Luzon where the existing peak demand of 6,309 MW is projected to increase by 7.5-percent annually,” said PNOC-EDC President Paul A. Aquino.

On top of this project, the company is also studying the feasibility of developing wind farms in Nubenta in Carrascal, Surigao del Sur; Bayog in Burgos, Ilocos Norte; and Manoc-manoc in Boracay, Aklan.  

It was divulged that the German government, through Kreditanstalt fur Weideraufbau (KfW) has already earmarked official development funds equivalent to about 20 million Euros loan to finance the implementation of projects found feasible. 

The company has likewise submitted proposals for funding of feasibility studies for its wind farm prospects in Camiguin island and Taytay, Palawan to the Spanish Embassy through the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). (MMV)