BRIEF
HISTORY

          During the term of the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos, the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) has the sole control of the construction of transmission and generating facilities in the country.  Presidential Degree No. 40 issued in November 1972, established the basic policies for the electric power industry.

          In spite of this, the Angeles Electric Corporation (AEC) which was established in 1923, kept in existence, with its 10-MW Diesel electric plant, the Petersville Power Station, and its distribution facility in its franchise area, the Angeles City.

PLANS FOR EXPANSION

With the ascendancy of then President Corazon C. Aquino’s government in 1986, new policy direction began to take place.

The rising power demand brought about by the sudden resurgence of economic activities, the deteriorating conditions of the existing NAPOCOR Power Stations and the decision to mothball the 620MW Bataan Nuclear Power Plant placed severe strain on the Luzon grid power supply. President Aquino issued amendment to PD No. 40 which allowed the participation of the private sector in energy generation.

On July 10, 1987 President Corazon C. Aquino signed Executive Order No. 215 which rationalized power generating operations in the Philippines by allowing the private sector to engage in the generation of electricity.  The objective of the program is to accelerate the growth of generating capacity in the country to meet the rapid increase in the demand for electricity.  It was during this time that the Build-Operate-Transfer (B.O.T.) scheme was encouraged.

It was during this latter part of the 1980’s, that the President and General Manager of the A.E.C., Engr. Peter G. Nepomuceno, became aggressive and considered the addition of generating units for the Petersville Power Station.  He sent his engineers to different parts of the country to scout for second hand generating units, ranging from the different diesel engine models up to the different types of small-scale power generating packages (i.e, wood-fired thermal plants, wind power turbines, mine-hydro, etc.).  Different studies were made in the context of expanding the company’s generating capacity.

NATURE’S INTERFERENCE

The eruption of Mt. Pinatubo last June 12, 1991 and the pull-out of American bases put this “dream” into a stand still.  The abrupt drop in the power demand in the AEC franchise was discouraging.  Everything looked dim during this calamity period.

The Nepomucenos did not give-up hope but instead, thought positively by courageously facing the tests of nature.  Engr. Peter Nepomuceno swiftly deployed his workforce to revive the damaged distribution system and to repair the collapsed roofing of the power plant building.  This positive gesture awakened the mourning Angeleños and served as a catalyst in reviving life and economy in Angeles City.  By December of that same year, the Petersville Power Station was again operational and the franchise area’s power demand started rising.

This development showed good signs of life and resurgence of economic activities.  On the later part of 1992, Engr. Peter G. Nepomuceno was back on his dream of acquiring additional generating sets, but this time, on a different perspective, to house the additional units to a different site, far from lahar flows of the Abacan river.  Scouting for generating sets was resumed by sending his engineers to a mining site in Mindanao to verify the Pielstick engine at Sabena Mining, Davao del Norte.

BIRTH OF A NEW ENTERPRISE

 In December 1992, the Nepomucenos had an idea of putting the new plant, on a different company name and will be located in Calibutbut, Bacolor, Pampanga right in the western part of Angeles Industrial Park, Calibutbut, Bacolor, Pampanga.

By the middle of January 1993, Mr. Joe Maroma of Archipelago Machineries Inc. met with Engr. Peter G. Nepomuceno and offered the slightly-used ZGODA SULZER 12 ZV40 Diesel Engines from Poland.  The offer was formalized on that same month by Mr. Joe Maroma, Mr. Stan Caballes, also of Archipelago and Mr. Don Martin of Associated Power & Equipment Consultants, Ltd. (APEC).  Engr. Nepomuceno accepted the offer and on February 1993 the company was formed and incorporated with the name ANGELES POWER INC.  and the power plant which will have a total capacity of 30 MW will be named CALIBU POWER PLANT.  The name CALIBU was adopted from the name of the barangay where the plant will be situated, which is Calibutbut.  Thus, the birth of a new power station.  Clearing of the site, which used to be a sugar plantation, followed immediately after the approval of environmental permits.

The simple ground breaking rites was on April 22, 1993 and earth-moving and a civil works started.  Right in the shadows of Mount Pinatubo, ignoring the intermittent ash falls and news of big lahar flows in nearby towns, the construction of the project pushed thru, with high spirits.  The initial two generating sets, with a capacity of 6.3 MW each were expected to arrive on the last quarter of that same year.

By December 1993 the plant building was almost finished and the first unit is being prepared for start-up.  The close collaboration of the different working groups made the project completed almost on schedule despite the variety of problems encountered.  The civil works was done by J.D. NEPOMUCENO & SONS led by Mr.  Marcos Lumanlan   and Engr.  Ariel Yabut, with Mr. Perfecto Dizon as the sub-contractor.  The steel structural was erected by ENRIMAN STEEL, headed by Engr. Arturo Enriquez.  Gen-Set Alignment was done by ATLAS VENTURES INC. headed by Engr. Danilo C. Ngujo.  The piping works was done by ROM-Diesel electric Systems, Inc.  also headed by Engr. Danilo C. Ngujo and Engr. Benito P. Baguio.  The over-all coordination of the project was handled by AEC Engineers headed by Engr. Rosby S. Calma, the Electrical was handled by Engr. Amado R. Natividad and the mechanical was handled by Engr. Fernando D. Sampang, Engr. Edmundo Gabiana (a former AEC employee) was a part-time consultant.

A DREAM-COME-TRUE

Initial runs of the two gen. sets were done on Jan. 5, 1994 and March 29, 1994, respectively.  With the help of Engineers from the ZGODA-SULZER factory in Poland (i.e., Wojciech Kasprzyk, Rudolf Dlucik, Antoni Nowrot, and Henry Syska).  Several problems of varying degrees were patched-up and the two sets were officially commissioned on May 19, 1994, both running continuously on heavy fuel oil.  The Calibu Power Plant with its first two sets of SULZER 12 ZV40 Engines coupled to IDEAL ELECTRIC alternators with a capacity of 6.3 MW each, supplied electric power to ANGELES ELECTRIC CORPORATION from thereon.

On the last quarter of the same year, the negotiations for the next three generating unit started and excavation works for the foundation of the next three gen. sets was accomplished.

By January 1995, construction of the concrete foundation for unit #3 and other civil works kicked off.  With the target of completing the next three generators by the end of the year 1996, Construction work kept on moving.  Building extension, construction of storage tank, piping works, engine installation, etc. were done on a constant pace.  The next three units of identical SULZER 12 ZV40/48 engines coupled to IDEAL ELECTRIC generators @ 514 rpm and 6.0 MW each were completed one after the other.  Unit #3 was commissioned on November 4, 1995 while unit #4 was commissioned on March 1, 1996.

The fifth unit was commissioned on January 24, 1997.  Thus, the Calibu Power plant was finally completed with its total capacity of 30 MW.

The Angeles Power Inc. is geared toward meeting the growing demand for electricity in the franchise area of AEC brought about by the conversion of the former Clark Air Base into a huge business and industrial center.

The Management of the Angeles Power Inc., believing in the principle of continuous growth and sustainable development, are yet tireless and continuously explores all possibilities of expanding the plant capacity to 50 MW, with the prospect of acquiring two more units of SULZER 16 ZA40S engines with a capacity of 11.5 MW each.

The 30 MW Calibu Power Plant …… is a “dream-come-true” …. but definitely, it’s not yet the end of the dream.

PLANS FOR EXPANSION

With the ascendancy of then President Corazon C. Aquino’s government in 1986, new policy direction began to take place.

The rising power demand brought about by the sudden resurgence of economic activities, the deteriorating conditions of the existing NAPOCOR Power Stations and the decision to mothball the 620MW Bataan Nuclear Power Plant placed severe strain on the Luzon grid power supply. President Aquino issued amendment to PD No. 40 which allowed the participation of the private sector in energy generation.

On July 10, 1987 President Corazon C. Aquino signed Executive Order No. 215 which rationalized power generating operations in the Philippines by allowing the private sector to engage in the generation of electricity.  The objective of the program is to accelerate the growth of generating capacity in the country to meet the rapid increase in the demand for electricity.  It was during this time that the Build-Operate-Transfer (B.O.T.) scheme was encouraged.

It was during this latter part of the 1980’s, that the President and General Manager of the A.E.C., Engr. Peter G. Nepomuceno, became aggressive and considered the addition of generating units for the Petersville Power Station.  He sent his engineers to different parts of the country to scout for second hand generating units, ranging from the different diesel engine models up to the different types of small-scale power generating packages (i.e, wood-fired thermal plants, wind power turbines, mine-hydro, etc.).  Different studies were made in the context of expanding the company’s generating capacity.

NATURE’S INTERFERENCE

The eruption of Mt. Pinatubo last June 12, 1991 and the pull-out of American bases put this “dream” into a stand still.  The abrupt drop in the power demand in the AEC franchise was discouraging.  Everything looked dim during this calamity period.

The Nepomucenos did not give-up hope but instead, thought positively by courageously facing the tests of nature.  Engr. Peter Nepomuceno swiftly deployed his workforce to revive the damaged distribution system and to repair the collapsed roofing of the power plant building.  This positive gesture awakened the mourning Angeleños and served as a catalyst in reviving life and economy in Angeles City.  By December of that same year, the Petersville Power Station was again operational and the franchise area’s power demand started rising.

This development showed good signs of life and resurgence of economic activities.  On the later part of 1992, Engr. Peter G. Nepomuceno was back on his dream of acquiring additional generating sets, but this time, on a different perspective, to house the additional units to a different site, far from lahar flows of the Abacan river.  Scouting for generating sets was resumed by sending his engineers to a mining site in Mindanao to verify the Pielstick engine at Sabena Mining, Davao del Norte.

PLANS FOR EXPANSION

With the ascendancy of then President Corazon C. Aquino’s government in 1986, new policy direction began to take place.

The rising power demand brought about by the sudden resurgence of economic activities, the deteriorating conditions of the existing NAPOCOR Power Stations and the decision to mothball the 620MW Bataan Nuclear Power Plant placed severe strain on the Luzon grid power supply. President Aquino issued amendment to PD No. 40 which allowed the participation of the private sector in energy generation.

On July 10, 1987 President Corazon C. Aquino signed Executive Order No. 215 which rationalized power generating operations in the Philippines by allowing the private sector to engage in the generation of electricity.  The objective of the program is to accelerate the growth of generating capacity in the country to meet the rapid increase in the demand for electricity.  It was during this time that the Build-Operate-Transfer (B.O.T.) scheme was encouraged.

It was during this latter part of the 1980’s, that the President and General Manager of the A.E.C., Engr. Peter G. Nepomuceno, became aggressive and considered the addition of generating units for the Petersville Power Station.  He sent his engineers to different parts of the country to scout for second hand generating units, ranging from the different diesel engine models up to the different types of small-scale power generating packages (i.e, wood-fired thermal plants, wind power turbines, mine-hydro, etc.).  Different studies were made in the context of expanding the company’s generating capacity.

BIRTH OF A NEW ENTERPRISE

In December 1992, the Nepomucenos had an idea of putting the new plant, on a different company name and will be located in Calibutbut, Bacolor, Pampanga right in the western part of Angeles Industrial Park, Calibutbut, Bacolor, Pampanga.

By the middle of January 1993, Mr. Joe Maroma of Archipelago Machineries Inc. met with Engr. Peter G. Nepomuceno and offered the slightly-used ZGODA SULZER 12 ZV40 Diesel Engines from Poland.  The offer was formalized on that same month by Mr. Joe Maroma, Mr. Stan Caballes, also of Archipelago and Mr. Don Martin of Associated Power & Equipment Consultants, Ltd. (APEC).  Engr. Nepomuceno accepted the offer and on February 1993 the company was formed and incorporated with the name ANGELES POWER INC.  and the power plant which will have a total capacity of 30 MW will be named CALIBU POWER PLANT.  The name CALIBU was adopted from the name of the barangay where the plant will be situated, which is Calibutbut.  Thus, the birth of a new power station.  Clearing of the site, which used to be a sugar plantation, followed immediately after the approval of environmental permits.

The simple ground breaking rites was on April 22, 1993 and earth-moving and a civil works started.  Right in the shadows of Mount Pinatubo, ignoring the intermittent ash falls and news of big lahar flows in nearby towns, the construction of the project pushed thru, with high spirits.  The initial two generating sets, with a capacity of 6.3 MW each were expected to arrive on the last quarter of that same year.

By December 1993 the plant building was almost finished and the first unit is being prepared for start-up.  The close collaboration of the different working groups made the project completed almost on schedule despite the variety of problems encountered.  The civil works was done by J.D. NEPOMUCENO & SONS led by Mr.  Marcos Lumanlan   and Engr.  Ariel Yabut, with Mr. Perfecto Dizon as the sub-contractor.  The steel structural was erected by ENRIMAN STEEL, headed by Engr. Arturo Enriquez.  Gen-Set Alignment was done by ATLAS VENTURES INC. headed by Engr. Danilo C. Ngujo.  The piping works was done by ROM-Diesel electric Systems, Inc.  also headed by Engr. Danilo C. Ngujo and Engr. Benito P. Baguio.  The over-all coordination of the project was handled by AEC Engineers headed by Engr. Rosby S. Calma, the Electrical was handled by Engr. Amado R. Natividad and the mechanical was handled by Engr. Fernando D. Sampang, Engr. Edmundo Gabiana (a former AEC employee) was a part-time consultant.

A DREAM-COME-TRUE

Initial runs of the two gen. sets were done on Jan. 5, 1994 and March 29, 1994, respectively.  With the help of Engineers from the ZGODA-SULZER factory in Poland (i.e., Wojciech Kasprzyk, Rudolf Dlucik, Antoni Nowrot, and Henry Syska).  Several problems of varying degrees were patched-up and the two sets were officially commissioned on May 19, 1994, both running continuously on heavy fuel oil.  The Calibu Power Plant with its first two sets of SULZER 12 ZV40 Engines coupled to IDEAL ELECTRIC alternators with a capacity of 6.3 MW each, supplied electric power to ANGELES ELECTRIC CORPORATION from thereon.

On the last quarter of the same year, the negotiations for the next three generating unit started and excavation works for the foundation of the next three gen. sets was accomplished.

By January 1995, construction of the concrete foundation for unit #3 and other civil works kicked off.  With the target of completing the next three generators by the end of the year 1996, Construction work kept on moving.  Building extension, construction of storage tank, piping works, engine installation, etc. were done on a constant pace.  The next three units of identical SULZER 12 ZV40/48 engines coupled to IDEAL ELECTRIC generators @ 514 rpm and 6.0 MW each were completed one after the other.  Unit #3 was commissioned on November 4, 1995 while unit #4 was commissioned on March 1, 1996.

The fifth unit was commissioned on January 24, 1997.  Thus, the Calibu Power plant was finally completed with its total capacity of 30 MW.

The Angeles Power Inc. is geared toward meeting the growing demand for electricity in the franchise area of AEC brought about by the conversion of the former Clark Air Base into a huge business and industrial center.

The Management of the Angeles Power Inc., believing in the principle of continuous growth and sustainable development, are yet tireless and continuously explores all possibilities of expanding the plant capacity to 50 MW, with the prospect of acquiring two more units of SULZER 16 ZA40S engines with a capacity of 11.5 MW each.

The 30 MW Calibu Power Plant …… is a “dream-come-true” …. but definitely, it’s not yet the end of the dream.