Pulangi power plant capacity lowered

Sunstar Cagayan de Oro
By Richel V. Umel
Sunday, April 13, 2014

ILIGAN CITY – The Pulangi hydro electric power plant is down to 60 Megawatts (MW) from 255 MW generating capacity since the water level and supply from Pulangi River that supplies the turbines has gone insufficient.

Engineer Rudy Brioso, vice-president of National Power Corporation (NPC)–Mindanao Generation, told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro in an exclusive interview Friday morning, April 11.

Brioso said, "We are currently managing the available water resources to ensure that we will be able to maximize the generation output of Agus power plant complex."

"Historically, we have observed that the elevation of Lake Lanao will recede during summer months, in the same way that water flow from Pulangi river is also limited during these periods," Brioso added.

Lake Lanao water elevation is at 699.80 meters at present and the Hydro Electric Power (HEP) plants in Agus complex can still operate at 699.15 meters but if it continues to lower down to 698.15 “we will be forced to shut down the HEP plants.”

Based on data provided by the NPC of Iligan City, Agus 1 in Marawi City has 55 MW generating capacity; Agus 2 in Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur at 120 MW; Agus 4 in Balo-i; Lanao del Norte 140 MW; Agus 5 at 54 MW; Agus 6 at 110 MW and Agus 7 at 25 MW.

Engineer Henry Hecita, Agus 6 and 7 maintenance manager, said "Unit Three of Agus 6 HEP plant in Agus complex in Iligan City is still under preventive maintenance which is expected to be completed on or before May 15."

Agus 6 HEP has five units. Once the repair and maintenance will be completed the Agus 6 could generate 150 MW.

Some parts of Mindanao are experiencing rotating power outage that runs about four to five hours. Ellen Ajijul, a resident of Pagadian City, said, "We have four hours of rotating brownout on Saturdays that start at 10:00 o'clock in the morning to 2:00o'clock in the afternoon.”

Lady Cortez, spokesperson of Lanao del Norte Electric Cooperative (Laneco) of the second district of the province, said its areas usually experience around eight hours of power outage every other day. The second district covers the municipalities of Lala, Kapatagan, Salvador, Sapad, Kapatagan, Nunungan, Munai, Tangcal and Sultan Naga Dimaporo.

Iligan City has been spared from the rotating power outage as Mapalad Power Corporation of the Alcantara Group supplied at least 10 MW to Iligan Light and Power Incorporated (ILPI).

MPC has a 110 MW generating capacity diesel plant. source