Energy boss: Power reserves in Mindanao remain low

business mirror

WEDNESDAY, 06 JULY 2011 17:55 PAUL ANTHONY A. ISLA

POWER reserve levels in the Mindanao grid remain low, according to Energy Sec. Jose Rene Almendras.

In an interview, the Energy chief said the Department of Energy (DOE) is not happy with the reserve levels in Mindanao.

“We’re lucky that the hydroelectric power plants in Mindanao are doing well, and that there are no major breakdowns. The hydroelectric power plants are okay but [the situation] is still not stable,” Almendras said.

He said the DOE is trying to bring in as much capacity in the Mindanao grid. “Hopefully the Iligan power plant comes online in a few months.”

The reserves are very low, according to Almendras, adding that reserves are usually only 100 megawatts (MW) during peak hours. He made it clear though that no brownouts are being experienced in Mindanao, saying that the reserve levels are just too low. “We’re enticing more as many investors as we can to Mindanao. And there are now more people interested,” he said.

Next year, Almendras warned, will also be challenging, depending on the weather.

“Particularly, if you’re gonna get really hot summers and problems with the hydro levels then, although Pagasa [Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical Astronomical Sergvices Administration] made an announcement that we’re entering the La Niña phase again. So if that happens, then the hydropower plants will be okay,” Almendras said.

He added that they are also hopeful new power plants will come online by 2013.

“We’re also revising our estimates because we overestimated this year. We did not hit the peaks that we saw. We may have to revise it, as our estimates were too aggressive, and we have to be conservative, too. For instance, our estimates for peak demand of 7,900 MW did not happen this year,” Almendras said. He also noted that the demand structure is also improving as electricity sales are also going up with call centers and business-process outsourcing industries.

Early this year, the DOE said the Luzon grid will need an additional 300 MW during the summer months to meet the 23.4-percent reserve margin for the projected 7,900MW demand for this year.

It also noted that Mindanao will likely have a shortage by March as the Pulangi IV hydropower plant in Maramag, Bukidnon, is set to undergo preventive maintenance suspension and in the summer months as the region relies heavily on hydro power. 

(Paul Isla)