THE CONSTRUCTION arm of Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. has secured the P206-million contract to design and construct an overhead transmission line for another Aboitiz-led company, Lima Enerzone Corp.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Aboitiz Construction, Inc. (ACI) said the 69-kilovolt transmission line will be for the Lima Technology Center, and will span 64 kilometers across Batangas City up to Lipa City.
The project is seen to increase reliability, ensure continued power supply, mitigate unwanted power outages, and address systems losses, according to Lima Enerzone Chief Operating Officer Dante T. Pollescas. He noted that it will ultimately benefit the locators in the industrial zone.
“We are excited to partner with ACI, which committed to finish construction before the target date,” ACI quoted Mr. Pollescas as saying in a statement.
Lima Enerzone operates the distribution system of Lima Land, Inc., an economic zone in the Lipa-Malvar area registered under the Philippine Economic Zone Authority. It is one of four electric distribution utilities under Aboitiz Power Corp. that operate the distribution system of a specific economic zone.
ACI President and Chief Operating Officer Albert A. Ignacio noted that the project will expand the firm’s foothold in the power construction market. The Lima project will allow ACI to undertake the entire scope of work — starting from design to construction of the substation, switchyard, and maintenance-related work of high and low voltage power lines.
“We thank Lima Enerzone for the trust and confidence. This has actually opened doors for us and as we speak, we are talking to potential client for a bigger transmission line project. What we have here is a synergy of two companies that can go a long way,” Mr. Ignacio said in a statement.
ACI started efforts to expand its geographic reach and services last year, with the incorporation of an international subsidiary called Aboitiz Construction International, Inc.
The company earlier said it was in talks with some Chinese engineering, procurement, and construction companies. It looks to be engaged as either joint venture partners or major subcontractors for the projects the Chinese firms will be developing in the Philippines.
ACI projects in the pipeline also include a power plant in Sarangani, a petrochemical plant in Bataan, a shopping mall called The Outlets in Lipa, Batangas, and fabrication works for a Korean and Japanese firm, among others. — Arra B. Francia

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