Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Stars in strife

Breaktime

By Conrado Banal III
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:08:00 12/08/2010

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THE AQUINO (Part II) administration still has no lasting solution to the power shortage in Mindanao.

Today, businesses in the area may be enjoying a little relief from power failures that crippled Mindanao’s vibrant economy for most of 2010. The thing is that the government, actually, had nothing to do with it.

The lucky break came from the unusual rains in the past months, feeding the hydroelectric plants that cover about two-thirds of the island’s electricity supply.

As soon as the dry months come, according to sources in the power industry, the island is back to three-hour blackouts.

Even today, the island is running on its power generation “reserve.” This means the island immediately needs new capacity of at least 200 megawatts.

And that is just to serve the present demand, not even including the projected increase coming from mining ventures and other industrial projects.

Thus the big power users in Mindanao know that the problem of severe power shortage remains. They are already holding back on their investments. Double aray!

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