By Alena Mae S. Flores

State-owned National Power Corp. is re-bidding the contract to operate and manage the 620-megawatt Bataan Combined Cycle Power Plant in Limay, Bataan pending its privatization.

Napocor invited potential bidders for the service contract of the Limay power plant with an approved budget of P999.7 million. Napocor first solicited bids for the operation and management of the Limay plant in November last year.

Napocor said funds for the contract would come from the corporate budget of the company. The company will conduct the bidding on Feb. 24.

“The contractor... shall provide the requisite labor, supervision, spare parts, consumables and other equipment and materials for the plant as may be required to fulfill its obligations under the contract,” Napocor said in a notice to bidders.

The Limay plant, which was commissioned in 1993, consists of two 310-megawatt modules, with three 70-MW gas turbines and a 100-MW steam turbine each. The plant runs on 80 percent bunker fuel and 20 percent diesel.

Earlier, food and beverage giant San Miguel Corp. confirmed its interest to acquire the Limay plant.

“We confirm that SMC through its subsidiary, San Miguel Energy Corp., has submitted to Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. a letter of interest to acquire the Bataan Combined Cycle Power Plant facilities in Limay, Bataan,” San Miguel said earlier in a disclosure.