"The chimneys are gone."
(Notes after the demolition of the old Garner-Snyder Thermal Power Plant
in Sucat Paranaque)
It is quite lamenting that one of the monuments to ContemporAntiquity hath been dismantled in the name of 'progress'.
For condemned since 2017 and currently undergoing its demolition process, the former Gardener-Snyder Thermal Power Plant hath been a landmark for generations, provided power in Metro Manila alongside the Manila Thermal Power Plant (in Isla de Provisor) and the Rockwell Thermal Power Plant in Makati, making these once three known landmarks synonymous with power generation if not names like "Manila Electric Company" and the "National Power Corporation".
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| The power plant complex as shown by Google Maps |
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| Map featuring MERALCO's Service Network featuring then existing Rockwell, Tegen, and Gardner-Snyder power plants located |
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| A commemorative item from MERALCO |
However, in 1978, this once-Meralco owned facility, one of the structures the Lopezes or its former white owners taketh pride of, was acquired by the National Power Corporation as part of its expansion plan involving power generation and distribution. It was also during those periods wherein electrification hath been a major priority of the government-especially in the far flung areas where electricity hath been a major issue; thus, this power plant in Paranaque, as any other power plant, does contribute its share in its production.
On the other hand, the plant also hath a major share of its problems. Situated near Laguna de Bay, flooding became a major issue especially in mid-1972 when the complex then Meralco-owned, had to be completely shut down due to the overflowing of the lake and its subsequent submerging of vital power plant auxiliary equipment.
Also in relation to that 1972 flooding, that according to the release from the 1973 Meralco Securities Corporation report, that the floods also caused considerable delays in the transporation of heavy equipment to the cite of the lubricating oil refinery of Philippine Petroleum Corporation in Pililla, Rizal. While Philippine Engineering and Construction Corporation also experienced difficulties in its construction work projects, particularly on MERALCO's Montelibano Station Unit No. 1 and the PPC Refinery. So was the Philippine Electric Corporation (PHILEC) experiencing delays in the arrival of imported raw materials all due to floods.
Thus, this flooding problem became a matter which made rehabilitation deemed impossible. Furthermore, the passage of RA 8749 known as the "Clean Air Act" forced operations at the oil-fueled plant in a standstill all due to its emissions which exceed the limits brought by the law.
But despite encountering problems, operations continued until January 2000 when Units 1 and 4 were decommissioned and placed under preservation; followed by Units 2 and 3 were later in January 2002.
Despite its decommission, there were plans to rehabilitate the site by restoring some of its units including those of making the plant taking a major role in the development of the country’s natural gas infrastructure via the proposed $2.1-billion Batangas-Manila natural gas pipeline project.
For according to a news article made by the Manila Standard last 2015, the former oil-powered power plant was to be converted into a natural gas-powered facility; alongside its privatisation with former Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla said the Sucat facility would be privatized “but whoever will take it will keep the site as a power generation site.”
Furthermore, former PSALM president Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. said the agency was still waiting for the final direction from the Energy Department on the Sucat privatization, “given the ongoing discussion on the power situation.” Ledesma also earlier bared plans to rehabilitate the decommissioned Sucat power plant. “As to the power plant itself, we are currently evaluating proposals to rehab some units of the plant,” he said.
But things turned out to be different for the supposed rehabilitation end as any other pipe dream- that aside from failed biddings and rebiddings, the fact that despite considering rehabilitation such plans were dropped after it was deemed too costly to recommission the plant compared to constructing a new one in its place and the facility is already flooded. Even former Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho L. Petilla said it was no longer advisable to jump-start the power facility again. Besides, it was more expensive to rehabilitate an old plant than to construct a new one.
The facility continued to remain idle, until last 2017 when PSALM was looking to transform the site of the 850-megawatt (MW) facility, this time into an energy-related project, a transportation hub or an economic zone.
But instead of its supposed rehab, the state-run maintainer of "power sector assets" opted to demolish altogether "to ground zero."
Also in relation to that 1972 flooding, that according to the release from the 1973 Meralco Securities Corporation report, that the floods also caused considerable delays in the transporation of heavy equipment to the cite of the lubricating oil refinery of Philippine Petroleum Corporation in Pililla, Rizal. While Philippine Engineering and Construction Corporation also experienced difficulties in its construction work projects, particularly on MERALCO's Montelibano Station Unit No. 1 and the PPC Refinery. So was the Philippine Electric Corporation (PHILEC) experiencing delays in the arrival of imported raw materials all due to floods.
Thus, this flooding problem became a matter which made rehabilitation deemed impossible. Furthermore, the passage of RA 8749 known as the "Clean Air Act" forced operations at the oil-fueled plant in a standstill all due to its emissions which exceed the limits brought by the law.
But despite encountering problems, operations continued until January 2000 when Units 1 and 4 were decommissioned and placed under preservation; followed by Units 2 and 3 were later in January 2002.
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| "The chimneys are gone." |
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| Old engines prior to its dismantlement |
Furthermore, former PSALM president Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. said the agency was still waiting for the final direction from the Energy Department on the Sucat privatization, “given the ongoing discussion on the power situation.” Ledesma also earlier bared plans to rehabilitate the decommissioned Sucat power plant. “As to the power plant itself, we are currently evaluating proposals to rehab some units of the plant,” he said.
But things turned out to be different for the supposed rehabilitation end as any other pipe dream- that aside from failed biddings and rebiddings, the fact that despite considering rehabilitation such plans were dropped after it was deemed too costly to recommission the plant compared to constructing a new one in its place and the facility is already flooded. Even former Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho L. Petilla said it was no longer advisable to jump-start the power facility again. Besides, it was more expensive to rehabilitate an old plant than to construct a new one.
The facility continued to remain idle, until last 2017 when PSALM was looking to transform the site of the 850-megawatt (MW) facility, this time into an energy-related project, a transportation hub or an economic zone.
But instead of its supposed rehab, the state-run maintainer of "power sector assets" opted to demolish altogether "to ground zero."
“Dismantling the Sucat plant will pave the way for the rise of a new development project that will benefit the host community and the country, in general,” PSALM Officer-in-Charge, Lourdes S. Alzona, said. Initial discussions include transforming the site into a location for an energy-related project, a transportation hub, or an economic zone."
The winning bidder, Riverbend Consolidated Mining Corporation, carrieth out the disposal of the plant structures. It has fully paid PSALM the purchase price of the decommissioned asset in the amount of PHP305.2 last July 31 2017. And with the satisfaction of closing deliveries, the asset turnover was held last Aug. 2 of that same year- that also marked the start of the 30-month implementation period for Riverbend’s dismantling and clean up obligations.
In the asset sale provisions, Riverbend was obliged to dismantle the facility and return the current site to ground zero, free and clear of wastes, toxic substances, debris and structures; while PSALM proceeded with the decommissioning of the pipeline embedded in the plant site that connects the Sucat, the former Rockwell, and the Manila Thermal Power Plant in Isla de Provisor near Pasig river.
In the asset sale provisions, Riverbend was obliged to dismantle the facility and return the current site to ground zero, free and clear of wastes, toxic substances, debris and structures; while PSALM proceeded with the decommissioning of the pipeline embedded in the plant site that connects the Sucat, the former Rockwell, and the Manila Thermal Power Plant in Isla de Provisor near Pasig river.
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| Piece by piece, anything to be removed "till nothing." (Feat. the old Siemens oil-fueled engines once used to generate Metro Manila's electicity) |
At present, the plant is still undergoing demolition, removing its steel for scrap be it the chimneys, wires, the old Siemens engines, anything that can be dismantled as the once known structure be end as an empty lot for a willing client. People from all walks of life sought its demise and for sure most invoke their nostalgic memories such as the old familiar chimneys, described in various sorts ranging from giant wafer sticks or ovens for delicacies "Puto Bumbong" and "Puto Sulot"; while others just simply 'move on' thinking those structures as irrelevant, if not dirty as any other factory with chimneys on top regardless of its significance, therefore meant to be condemned altogether as any other old structure be it in Paranaque or in the entire Metro Manila itself like what happened in Isla de Provisor many years ago.
Deviating isn't it? For as the structure, instead of being maintained and for possible reimprovements related to power generation as supposed to be in its earlier agreements, hath been end dismantled altogether thinking that a development project may take place of that building- such as an economic zone that's familiar to most people "let's just say a cluster of call centres perhaps? Or a shopping centre? Or condominiums?" All similar to the Rockwell center whose complex is situated in the former power generating facility. Like Sucat, it was closed due to environmental reasons.
With all these events, would think that this person, like any other nostalgic is saddening that with this decades-old monument to a "promised future" hath been undergone demolition after years of neglect meant leaving its memories in a form of pictures in various nostalgia pages in social media sites, blogs, or newspaper and magazine articles- altogether acting as archives showcasing those pasts.In fact, for as far as this person knows that with the power plant having supposed to be reactivated for another power generating-related purpose, seeing it end rather scrapped in favour of "possible alternatives" is itself an alibi for certain developers to see deviations as what stated earlier, trying to change the nature of the district, if not the city from an industrial complex to a potential commerical one following those of its neighbours. Barrio Ugong for example, was once equated to factories ranging from textiles to food products, but recent trends affected this once industrial district, hence, some lots were once factories stood paved way to high-rise commercial towers, "economic zones" as one would say.
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But despite this lamentation, why is it this writer calls that known structure a monument to ContemporAntiquity? Again, from the word itself, it is contemporary knowing that the structure was made in mid 20th century and used till late, while at the same time time its quest to generate electricity was itself coming from a distant past, hence, antiquated. This writer believes that those structures were more than just utilitarian in its appearance, but rather invoked a future that's rooted, amplifying the demand for restoring socionational greatness through new technological forms to harness industries of both present and future. Wouldn't be surprised that there were times engineering students visited the site, seeing a wonder of the past such as push buttons and meters, of boilers and generators whose machines were once humming as it generates electricity from oil, and of course, the familar chimneys that became part of Paranaque's skyline.