Probe into delayed rehab of Pulangi power plants sought

By Annabelle L. Ricalde
Thursday, February 2, 2012


TWO lawmakers were proposing for an investigation on the delay in the rehabilitation of Agus-Pulangi Hydropower complex despite the go signal from the National Economic Development Authority (Neda) Investment Coordination Committee.


Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez (2nd district) and Abante Mindanao party-list Representative Maximo Rodriguez Jr. filed House Resolution 2041, directing the House committee on energy to conduct an investigation and determine what prevents the National Power Corporation (Napocor) from starting the rehabilitation of Agus-Pulangi hydropower.


Rufus said the people of Mindanao need all the increase in the output of its power sources to address the long-standing problem of power shortages in the island.


The rehabilitation, according to him, will include dredging activities at the 255-megawatt Pulangi and the equipment rehabilitation at a unit of the 700-megawatt Agus plants, which are crucial in ensuring the reliability of power supply in Mindanao.


“This is targeted to increase output by around 100-220 megawatts. In fact, with the rehabilitation of Agus 6 alone, this will result in an increased capacity of the unit to 69 megawatts from the current 52 megawatts,” Rufus said.


The two lawmakers said the funds for the planned rehabilitation will have to come from the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (Psalm), which was tasked to handle the privatization and maintenance of Napocor’s power generation assets and contracted capacities.


Psalm is also tasked to clean up the power firm’s debts.


“There is a need to investigate the delays in the commencement of the project and what prevents it from starting,” said Maximo.


At present, the Agus-Pulangi hydropower complex, which is composed of the 700-megawatt Agus plants and the 255-MR Pulangi plant, supplies more than half of the electricity requirements of Mindanao.


However, with its current condition, these hydropower plants are not operating at an optimal level, adding to the problem of power shortages in Mindanao.


It was learned that the rehabilitation project has yet to be approved by the Neda Board despite receiving the go signal from the Neda-Investment Coordination Committee, the body that recommends projects to the Board.


It was Napocor that proposes the rehabilitation but is reportedly still waiting for the final results of the analysis that will determine which area to specifically dredge.


Published in the Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro newspaper on February 03, 2012.