posted May 01, 2020 at 08:20 pm by Alena Mae S. Flores
The
Energy Department said it is preparing measures to ensure the adequate and
reliable power supply once the enhanced community quarantine is lifted by May
15.
“As
we have prepared for this COVID-19 to make sure we have enough supply, we are
now working together with the industry players. I thank them for their full
cooperation, when the economy restarts because the demand will be increasing,”
Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said in an interview on ANC.
“We
want to make sure that all power plants will be operating and those that have
been projected to be online let’s say in June will be able to come in even if
there are little delays so during this time we are already preparing for the
post-lockdown or the post-ECQ to make sure we can support the economy and the
demand of the different industries,” Cusi said.
Cusi
said the department should make sure that energy is sufficient to support the
demand in restarting the economy.
“When
restarting, demand is higher, so we are meeting to prepare for the post ECQ,”
the energy chief said.
He
said the agency should come out with new working standards for the “new normal”
amid the persistent threat of the coronavirus disease.
“We need to set the working standard or protocol for the new normal. Health
protocol must be observed by all,” Cusi said.
“Certain
rules and policies we need to amend and navigating this new normal, we have to
be very careful and watchful. We are now crafting the new standard for the
energy family,” he said.
Cusi
said power demand declined as much as 30 percent in Luzon in the wake of the
ECQ.
He
said there is currently enough supply with the anticipated higher demand during
the dry season. “We have more than enough supply for the entire country. Mindanao
has around 42 percent [reserves] and Visayas has something like 32, overall.
We have a little over 30 percent for the entire country,” Cusi said.
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