MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corp. (Pasar) is in talks with 3 foreign power producers to put up a 200-megawatt (MW) power plant that will support its expansion.

Industry sources said Pasar is in talks with GN Power Ltd. of Netherlands, GDF-Suez of Switzerland and Electricity Generating Public Co. Ltd. (Egco) of Thailand for the plant, which is eyed for groundbreaking in 2014.

GDF-Suez is a world's leading supplier of energy and environmental efficiency services with capacity of about 13,500 gigawatts, while GNPower is currently involved in the 600-MW coal facility in Mariveles, Bataan.

Egco is one of the largest independent power producers in Thailand. It controls a majority stake in Quezon Power Philippines Ltd., which operates a 460-megawatt coal plant in Quezon province.

Pasar churns out 215,000 metric tons per year (MTPY) of refined copper cathode. This will increase to 270,000 MTPY if it the company expands its capacity. The company needs 70 MW per day to support this expansion.

Pasar's plant complex occupies 80 hectares in the 424-hectare Leyte Industrial Development Estate. – Rappler.com