December 10, 2019 | 9:57 pm
THE Energy department expects power
demand in Luzon in 2020 to peak at 12,286 megawatts (MW), which will be reached
around the dry-season months, at a growth rate that is in line with performance
seen in recent years.
“We’re basically growing like around
700 MW to 800 MW per year,” Energy Assistant Secretary Redentor E. Delola said
in a chance interview.
“Next year, tinitingnan natin
(we’re looking at 12,286 MW peak demand sa (in) Luzon,” he added.
Mr. Delola said the Department of
Energy (DoE) has yet to finalize the estimates for the country’s separate power
grids in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao ahead of DoE’s preparations, including its
call for power plant operators to explain their facilities’ recent de-ratings,
or production of energy below the rated capacity.
“Sa Visayas and Mindanao hindi
masyadong problema ang next year as far as supply (Visayas and Mindanao
will not be much of a problem in terms of supply)” he said.
“Sa Mindanao talagang
sobra sobra. Sa Visayas medyo comfortable ang level natin
ng supply. Sa Visayas kasi nagpi-peak si Luzon hindi
naman nagpi-peak si Visayas, so nakakatulong si Luzon (In
Mindanao, there is oversupply. In the Visayas, supply is at a comfortable
level, because Visayas’ power demand peaks at a time when Luzon is not. So
Luzon helps)” he added.
Mr. Delola said the department’s focus
is on Luzon, where reserve power thins during the dry season. But he said a new
power plant would come online early next year — the first unit of GNPower
Dinginin Ltd. Co.’s supercritical coal-fired power plant.
GNPower Dinginin, in Bataan, has two
units, each with a capacity of 668 MW. The first unit was initially expected to
start commercial operations towards end-2019.
“‘Yan ‘yung gusto namin na
pumasok (That’s what we want to come in) before summer. So we’re
coordinating with the proponent kung ano ang mga problema nila, pwede ba
nilang ma-expedite? (what their problems are, and if they can expedite),”
Mr. Delola said.
“Hopefully, makapasok siya ng
April, kasi makakatulong siya sa atin sa summer (I hope they can come in
by April, because the plant can help in the summer),” he said.
He said it helps that the 500-MW San
Buenaventura Power Ltd. Co. (SBPL), the country’s first supercritical
coal-fired power plant, now provides additional supply to the Luzon grid. SBPL
started commercial operations on Sept. 26.
“Itong Luzon ang tinitingnan
natin ngayon. If Malaya privatization pushes through, so mawawala siya
sa mid next year if the proponent or the winning bidder decides not to run
it as a power plant kasi open yun eh, so mawawalan tayo ng
150 MW (It’s Luzon that we’re looking at. If Malaya’s privatization pushes
through, it will be out of the mix next year if the proponent or the winning
bidder decides not to run it as a power plant because it’s option is open, so
we will lose 150 MW.),” Mr. Delola said.
Last month, the second attempt of
state-led Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. to auction the
Malaya thermal power plant failed anew as most of the pre-qualified bidders
retreated, and a lone bidder submitted an offer below the floor price.
The Malaya plant remains operational
and being dispatched as a “must-run” unit. A must-run plant is compelled to run
and provide the needed power as deemed necessary to ensure reliability of power
supply in the Luzon grid, especially in times of supply shortfall, system
security and voltage support.
Mr. Delola said the DoE is
coordinating with the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) for Luzon
to import more power from the Visayas.
“Nasa range lang siya ng
mga 100 MW. Gusto nating umabot siya ng 250 MW. Capable naman ang
Visayas magbato ng 250 MW. The line is capable of carrying 400 MW (The
power import is just around 100 MW. We want this to reach 250 MW. Visayas is
capable of exporting 250 MW. The line is capable of carrying 400 MW.)” he said.
— Victor V. Saulon
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