Posted on November 11, 2012 10:15:24 PM
DAVAO CITY -- Operations of STEAG State Power, Inc.’s two coal-fired plants have normalized on Saturday, 15 hours ahead of the original schedule, a company statement released on Saturday said.
With this development, the grid’s power deficiency has eased significantly.
Based on figures from the Web site of the National Grid Corportion of the Philippines on Sunday, power shortage in Mindanao was at a low of 49 MW. System capacity was estimated at 1,008 MW while peak demand was estimated at 1,057 MW.
Weekend power demand in Mindanao, however, is roughly 200 MW lower than during weekdays when requirements from industries and other businesses are at their peak.
Power supply deficiency figures ranged from 300 MW to 500 MW in the last few weeks while one or both plants of STEAG were closed for maintenance.
“The precarious power supply condition in Mindanao is expected to substantially improve with the full capacity operation of STEAG’s (power plants),” the company said.
It added the preventive maintenance shutdown -- its first plant shutting down on Oct. 6 and its second plant turned off on Oct. 29 -- was necessary to improve power availability from the plants.
The company’s first plant went back to its normal operations on Nov. 4, 10 hours ahead of schedule.
“Carrying out the necessary preventive maintenance as planned and scheduled will bring long-term benefits for Mindanao power consumers in terms of operational reliability,” it added.
The Mindanao power situation has been problematic lately after old hydroelectric plants of the government-run National Power Corp. have experienced problems in the last five years.
Based on official data, government-operated hydroelectric plants in Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur produce about 50% of the island’s total requirements.
MORE COMPANIES
Two companies, in recent years, have answered to the call of government to invest in power generation. Conal Holdings Corp. of the Alcantara Group is setting up a 200-MW power plant in Sarangani.
Aboitiz Power Corp., through subsidiary Therma South, Inc., has also started building its 300-MW power complex here.
These new plants are expected to start normal operations within the next three years.
Both projects will use the latest technology in coal-fired power plants by utilizing what the two companies described as “circulating fluidized bed technology” that allegedly would minimize pollution as well as increase efficiency of the plants. -- Carmelito Q. Francisco source
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