The council voted 22-2 approving its proposal to expand the base load of subsidiary Therma South power plant project to 645MW from 300MW.

The expansion proposal has been ongoing since 2011, when the company first took the issue to the local council, highlighting future energy demands as the focus of the expansion.

"This expansion will ensure Mindanao will have enough power when demand catches up with supply again in 2017 and 2018," Aboitiz Power chief operating officer Benjamin Cariaso said.

The first 300MW capacity of Therma South is set for commercial operations in early 2015 and is in the process of being contracted out to distribution utilities and electric cooperatives in the region.

Meanwhile, the expansion is set for completion in 2017-18, when demand for power in Mindanao will be expected to exceed supply once again.

To meet national and international environment and health standards, the power plant will be using circulating fluidised-bed technology.