Business World Online
Posted on June 25, 2012 10:46:34 PM
LUZON’S precarious power situation is expected to normalize within the week as plants forced to run at derated capacities increase their output, an Energy department official said.
"Within the week the situation will normalize because when Calaca goes back online we will hit the normal reserves level of 600 megawatts (MW)," Energy Undersecretary Josefina Patricia M. Asirit told BusinessWorld.
The coal-fired Calaca plant is expected to return to producing 300 MW after being forced to run at just 200 MW last week due to a boiler tube leak. The facility has not been operating at its full 600 MW capacity as one unit has been undergoing rehabilitation since last year.
The 650-MW Malaya thermal power plant, meanwhile, was also allowed to operate, albeit at limited capacity to provide additional power to the Luzon grid. Ms. Asirit said the plant was only being run at 130-160 MW to conserve fuel as it will be used to augment power supply when the Malampaya natural gas project is temporarily shut down in July 13 for eight days.
New coal supplies for the 1,200-MW Sual power plant, she added, will allow the facility to start increasing capacity from 460 MW.
Other plants, however, will continue to run at lower capacities.
The 735-MW Pagbilao plant will be shut down for preventive maintenance until July 11 while the 200-MW Tiwi plant is still experiencing low steam supply.
Ms. Asirit said the government plans to "closely monitor the power plants to be able to avoid any more unplanned outages."
The Luzon grid was placed under a yellow alert -- raised when reserves fall below 600 MW -- starting June 21 due to unplanned outage.
As of yesterday, the island had reserves of 411 MW. Peak demand is at 7,612 MW with a system capacity of 7,955 MW.
"We expect the 600-MW GN Power facility to be operational by 2013 so that will be able to help address supply," Ms. Asirit said. source
The coal-fired Calaca plant is expected to return to producing 300 MW after being forced to run at just 200 MW last week due to a boiler tube leak. The facility has not been operating at its full 600 MW capacity as one unit has been undergoing rehabilitation since last year.
The 650-MW Malaya thermal power plant, meanwhile, was also allowed to operate, albeit at limited capacity to provide additional power to the Luzon grid. Ms. Asirit said the plant was only being run at 130-160 MW to conserve fuel as it will be used to augment power supply when the Malampaya natural gas project is temporarily shut down in July 13 for eight days.
New coal supplies for the 1,200-MW Sual power plant, she added, will allow the facility to start increasing capacity from 460 MW.
Other plants, however, will continue to run at lower capacities.
The 735-MW Pagbilao plant will be shut down for preventive maintenance until July 11 while the 200-MW Tiwi plant is still experiencing low steam supply.
Ms. Asirit said the government plans to "closely monitor the power plants to be able to avoid any more unplanned outages."
The Luzon grid was placed under a yellow alert -- raised when reserves fall below 600 MW -- starting June 21 due to unplanned outage.
As of yesterday, the island had reserves of 411 MW. Peak demand is at 7,612 MW with a system capacity of 7,955 MW.
"We expect the 600-MW GN Power facility to be operational by 2013 so that will be able to help address supply," Ms. Asirit said. source
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