Alsons Power: Energizing Mindanao's Path to Growth and Development

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – “Alsons Power is helping unlock the vast potential of Mindanao, fueling communities, and driving sustainable economic growth while prioritizing environmental stewardship,” said Antonio Miguel “Anton” Alcantara, CEO of Alsons Power, at the 33rd Mindanao Business Conference (MinBizCon). The event, held at the KCC Convention Center in General Santos City, brought together key leaders to discuss the future of the region’s economy.

As the power business unit of the Alcantara Group—a Mindanao-focused enterprise with significant investments in energy, agriculture, and real estate—Alsons Power plays a crucial role in supporting the region’s rapid development.

Alcantara shared that the Department of Budget and Management is targeting an economic growth rate of 6.5% to 7.5% by 2025, which is expected to drive an even greater demand for energy.

Data from the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP) and the Department of Energy show that the Philippines reached a peak energy demand of 17,331 megawatts in 2023, which surged to over 19,000 megawatts by the April 2024. Mindanao mirrored this trend, reaching a peak demand of 2,642 megawatts in April this year, an increase from the 2,323 megawatts recorded in the previous year. These rising figures highlight the nation's growing power consumption, driven by heightened economic activity and rising temperatures.

"Our population is rapidly growing, and every household increases power consumption, upgrading the use of electricity. That's about 100–125 megawatts in Mindanao every year," said Assistant Secretary Romeo M. Montenegro, Deputy Executive Director of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), addressing delegates at the Zamboanga Peninsula (ZamPen) Power Summit last August.

"After 4-5 years, a shortage will happen again, which is why proper timing, coordination in terms of policy and investments, and attracting power investment sectors are a must in Mindanao to avoid the rotating brownouts that happened in the past," Montenegro added.

To help meet this surging power demand, Alcantara outlined Alsons Power’s strategy to expand and diversify its energy portfolio. “We’re committed to developing new power plants with a strong focus on renewable energy while optimizing our existing conventional power assets,” he said.

Currently, Alsons Power has a capacity of over 460 megawatts, serving more than eight million people across Mindanao.

“Alsons Power is focused on building our renewable energy portfolio with various hydro and solar projects at different stages of development and implementation. These projects aim to contribute to the country’s goal of reaching a 35% renewable energy share by 2030 and 50% by 2040,” Alcantara said.

Recently, Alsons Power completed its first foray into the renewable energy landscape with the 14.5-megawatt run-of-river Siguil Hydro Power Plant in Maasim, Sarangani Province. This plant has an estimated annual output of around 95,000 MWh, capable of powering over 40,000 households. Siguil Hydro is the fifth renewable energy project to enter Mindanao's Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).

Alsons Power is also advancing other renewable projects, including the Sindangan Zambo-River Power Plant with a potential capacity of 8.8 megawatts for the run-of-river hydropower plant and 29 megawatts for the solar power plant.

More than three decades after helping address the Mindanao power crisis and the region's growing energy demands, Alsons Power remains committed to delivering safe, reliable, and affordable energy to the Southern Philippines and beyond. Recently, the Alcantara-led power business unit secured its first retail electricity supply agreement with Holcim Philippines, under which it will supply 80% of the energy needs for Holcim’s facilities in Davao and Lugait, Misamis Oriental.

“Reliable and affordable electricity is a key driver in attracting investments to a region. Our power facilities in Maasim, Sarangani, play a critical role in providing the stable energy needed to support and attract investments, not just within the province but across Mindanao,” emphasized Alcantara.

Alcantara also highlighted the company’s role in attracting large-scale industrial projects, including the multi-billion-dollar Panhua Integrated Steel Plant, a flagship venture by China’s Panhua Group, slated for completion by 2026 in the Kamanga Agro-Industrial Ecozone (KAIEZ) in Maasim, Sarangani.

“As we diversify our power sources, we remain committed to driving Mindanao’s growth, fostering economic progress, and safeguarding our natural resources,” Alcantara concluded.