PSALM’s Malaya plant gets lone bid from former operator Soosan

THE former operator of the Rizal diesel-fired power plant owned by the state-led Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) is the lone bidder for the generator’s service contract.

During a bid opening held on Monday, the South Korean heavy equipment manufacturer Soosan ENS Co., Ltd. emerged as the only bidder for the agency’s offering of a one-year service operation and maintenance contract for the 650-megawatt power plant.

Last year, Soosan was granted the same contract.

The firm placed P222.55 million for the service deal. PSALM allotted P224.80 million for the procurement of the said contract.

“The bid submitted is still subject to the detailed bid evaluation and post-qualification activities,” the agency said in a statement.

PSALM’s board has yet to decide on the offer before awarding the contract.

The generator, located in Pililla, Rizal, is a Department of Energy-designated must-run unit, which is compelled to run and to supply the Luzon grid during instances of supply shortages and plant outages. Once privatized, it will no longer run as such.

Meanwhile, the agency, which is tasked to privatize the government’s energy assets, is also selling the plant and its underlying land. It is accepting bids for the asset sale until July 30.

This is the third time that the agency attempted to privatize the Malaya plant since 2019. — Adam J. Ang