October 11, 2026 - A unit of Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen), plans to bid for a 900-megawatt power supply contract with Manila Electric Co. in a renewed push to develop its long-delayed coal-fired power plant in Quezon province.

MGen Chief Executive Emmanuel Rubio said Atimonan One Energy Inc. (A1E) intends to submit an expression of interest by October 15 for the competitive tender, which could provide a route to advancing the proposed 1,200-MW facility.

“The plan is still to build the 1,200 megawatt ultra-supercritical coal plant. It’s fully permitted,” Rubio said. “This is the last opportunity for MGen to execute Atimonan.”

Rubio ruled out converting the project to liquefied natural gas (LNG), saying MGen would instead concentrate its gas-fired power expansion in Batangas province.

Under the tender, Meralco is seeking 600 MW of supply starting February 26, 2031, and another 300 MW from February 26, 2032, under a 15-year power supply agreement.

The bidding process includes a pre-bid conference on November 6, with final offers due December 9.

The proposed Atimonan plant is expected to generate enough electricity for about five million households and create an estimated 6,000 construction jobs and 300 permanent positions once operational, according to project estimates.