Manila Bulletin
By Myrna M. Velasco
Published: April 10, 2013
At current pace of supply, it appears that National Power Corporation (NPC) can still hold on to its power supply contractual obligations, but if the situation worsens wherein water elevation at Lake Lanao breaches critical level, a shutdown of the Agus plant may come as the ultimate recourse.
The state-run power firm warned that based on its operating protocol, if Lake Lanao’s elevation will go below 698.15 meters above sea level (masl), “NPC will be constrained to shut down the operations of the Agus hydro plants.”
In a statement to the media, the power firm relayed to its customers that “it will still meet its contractual obligations to supply power from its portfolio of plants and IPPs (independent power producers) in Mindanao.”
But that assurance will only good this month, with the power firm already advancing caution that it may need to curtail generation around May – which is also the thick of the mid-term election season. It will take some measures to reverse that course.
The power firm stressed that for it to safely maintain Lake Lanao elevation within reasonable level for the May 13 elections “and ensure sufficient power generation during the election period, NPC will start conserving Lake Lanao water by strictly supplying power only to the extent of its contracted capacity with its customers.”
It further indicated that “at the current rate of utilization of Lake Lanao and assuming that there will be no improvement in water inflow to the lake, its elevation is projected to go down to the critical level of 699.15 masl by next month.”
To be pared to that level, it explained that it will have to conform to operating protocols and it may need to start curtailing its operations, “resulting in limited electric power generation from the Agus hydro plants.”
NPC firmly acknowledged that the strike of scorching summer compounded by moderate El Nino phenomenon “has greatly contributed to the receding elevation of the lake.”
The power firm added the dependable capacity of its Agus and Pulangui hydropower facilities, aggregated with Power Barge 104 and its contracted independent power producers, has been reaching 1,071 megawatts during peak hours.
It emphasized that such level of supply “is adequate to meet its contractual obligations”, hovering at 924MW.
Prior to 2010, NPC said its dependable capacity had been higher then with Power Barges 117 and 118 still under its charge – or just right before these were divested by the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation. (MMV) source
The state-run power firm warned that based on its operating protocol, if Lake Lanao’s elevation will go below 698.15 meters above sea level (masl), “NPC will be constrained to shut down the operations of the Agus hydro plants.”
In a statement to the media, the power firm relayed to its customers that “it will still meet its contractual obligations to supply power from its portfolio of plants and IPPs (independent power producers) in Mindanao.”
But that assurance will only good this month, with the power firm already advancing caution that it may need to curtail generation around May – which is also the thick of the mid-term election season. It will take some measures to reverse that course.
The power firm stressed that for it to safely maintain Lake Lanao elevation within reasonable level for the May 13 elections “and ensure sufficient power generation during the election period, NPC will start conserving Lake Lanao water by strictly supplying power only to the extent of its contracted capacity with its customers.”
It further indicated that “at the current rate of utilization of Lake Lanao and assuming that there will be no improvement in water inflow to the lake, its elevation is projected to go down to the critical level of 699.15 masl by next month.”
To be pared to that level, it explained that it will have to conform to operating protocols and it may need to start curtailing its operations, “resulting in limited electric power generation from the Agus hydro plants.”
NPC firmly acknowledged that the strike of scorching summer compounded by moderate El Nino phenomenon “has greatly contributed to the receding elevation of the lake.”
The power firm added the dependable capacity of its Agus and Pulangui hydropower facilities, aggregated with Power Barge 104 and its contracted independent power producers, has been reaching 1,071 megawatts during peak hours.
It emphasized that such level of supply “is adequate to meet its contractual obligations”, hovering at 924MW.
Prior to 2010, NPC said its dependable capacity had been higher then with Power Barges 117 and 118 still under its charge – or just right before these were divested by the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation. (MMV) source
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