Posted on July 19, 2015 09:29:00 PM
By Carmelito Q. Francisco, Correspondent
DAVAO CITY -- Several power plants in Mindanao, with combined capacity of 320 megawatts (MW), are undergoing maintenance and servicing, putting the Mindanao grid again on a supply deficit.
Steag State Power, Inc.’s two 105-MW units will resume operations on Aug. 18 while the 110-MW Mt. Apo. geothermal complex, now operated by the Gotianun-led FDC Misamis Oriental Power Corp., will go online on July 27, according to an announcement sent by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to electricity distributors.
As of Sunday, the Mindanao grid was 16 MW short of the peak demand at 1,191 MW, based on the NGCP Web site.
In a statement issued yesterday, Davao Light and Power Co. announced the implementation of one-hour rotating brownouts in its franchise areas covering Davao City and parts of Davao del Norte province.
Davao Light, an Aboitiz Power Corp. (AboitizPower) subsidiary, said the Pulangi hydroelectric complex is also experiencing reduced capacity due to low water inflow.
Rossano C. Luga, Davao Light’s corporate communications head, said the company has activated its standby plant, which has a rated capacity of about 60 MW but can only supply about 40 MW.
Two other AboitizPower companies are also providing backup supply with Hedcor, Inc. giving about 50 MW from its hydroelectric plants in Davao del Sur while Therma Marine, Inc. is supplying 30 MW from its two power barges.
Mr. Luga said the company has also activated the interruptible load program, which allows companies to provide their own electricity needs by using their generators.
“The implementation of the rotating power interruptions is necessary to avoid breakdown of the entire distribution system which happens when the demand is higher than what is being supplied,” the company said.
The grid is expected to get a boost soon when another AboitizPower company, Therma South, Inc. (TSI), starts commercial operations of its first 150-MW coal-fired power unit in its 300-MW complex located at the boundary of the city and Davao del Sur.
Synchronization activities for the TSI supply into the Mindanao grid has been ongoing since June and officials declined to say when they expect it to be completed. source
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