DOE Explores Power Solutions for AI Hub 'Pax Silica' in Tarlac

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Energy (DOE) is exploring several options to ensure a stable electricity supply for the United States-led artificial intelligence (AI) industrial hub, Pax Silica, planned for Tarlac. Energy Secretary Sharon Garin assured the public that domestic electricity supply would not be disadvantaged by the massive project. The Pax Silica complex, expected to house high-technology facilities including data centers, is projected to require at least 3,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity. Garin announced that the DOE has begun drafting a circular to establish how the market could power the massive data hub. She emphasized that the country has the capacity to deliver the supply, regardless of whether the demand is 50 MW, 100 MW, or 5,000 MW, stating, "We just need to make sure that anything we do to power a data center or hub will not put the rest of the country at a disadvantage. Our consumers will have protection." Energy Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara suggested that embedded generation, allowing generation firms to construct power plants within the area rather than sourcing electricity from distant locations, is the easiest way to energize Pax Silica. Guevara noted that securing a 20-year commitment from Pax Silica locators is crucial, as generators need two decades to recover their investment costs for building a plant. Furthermore, the DOE is considering incorporating Pax Silica's power requirements—including the necessary transmission, distribution, and generation facilities—into the government's national energy plan. The hub, designated for a 1,620-hectare site in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac, is anticipated to generate up to P180 billion in annual revenues and create nearly 200,000 jobs, significantly contributing to the Philippines' economic growth and employment opportunities.