Published July 12, 2017, 10:01 PM By Myrna M.
Velasco
PHINMA Energy Corporation will be
augmenting power supply in the earthquake-stricken domains in the Visayas grid
by close to 40 megawatts from its power barges that could be deployed into the
area.
This will be in response to the
request of the Department of Energy (DoE) for the company to help in the
immediate provision of power supply in Leyte, Samar and Bohol that have been
technically “plunged into the dark” after last week’s hit of natural disaster.
According to PHINMA Energy President
Fancisco L. Viray, the company could deploy their power barges of four
generating units with 5.5MW capacity each; and another barge of three
generating units with the same 5.5MW capacity each.
Altogether, that could shore up
power supply in the grid by 38.5MW – and could already be a big boost to an
area that is already experiencing the pain and distress of blackouts.
Nevertheless, Viray noted there are
logistical concerns that they would need to hurdle before they can move the
barges to the site where power supply is needed.
He admitted “the need (for supply
from the barges) could be overtaken by the repair of the geothermal facilities
in Leyte and the transmission lines.”
Viray qualified that “it takes time
to construct infrastructure for the mooring site, transmission line and
permitting requirements.”
The energy department indicated that
it is pushing for fast-track rehabilitation of the damaged power facilities –
primarily the geothermal generating facilities of Energy Development
Corporation (EDC) and the transmission facilities under the charge of the
National Grid Corporation of the Philippines.
“The DoE has a 10-day timeline to
restore power supply,” has been the marching order set out by Energy Secretary
Alfonso G. Cusi, while emphasizing that “the people are working double time to
repair necessary energy facilities.”
No comments:
Post a Comment