Power supply for Bantayan island shored up

Published February 9, 2021, 7:30 AM by Myrna M. Velasco
https://mb.com.ph/2021/02/09/power-supply-for-bantayan-island-shored-up/

Additional fuel storage had been installed by power provider Isla Norte Energy Corporation (INEC), so electricity supply can be shored up in the service area of Bantayan Electric Cooperative (BANELCO) in Cebu.

INEC, which is a tie-up between Garcia-led Vivant Energy Corporation and Gigawatt Power Inc., has a contract with BANELCO on the provision of emergency power to the island, for at least a year, until the more permanent solution to the power supply woes of the area is concretized.

According to Cris C. Fernandez, vice president of INEC, the newly deployed fuel tank has a capacity of 20,000 liters, hence, that can provide “added security and flexibility in the power supply that INEC provides to BANELCO.”

He expounded that such added safeguard on fuel storage is necessary “as sometimes delivery of fuel to the islands are hampered by bad weather.”

The power firm similarly noted that the generators installed at the BANELCO service area could generate 3.0 megawatts, which is roughly half of the total power demand of the island.

Fernandez emphasized that “INEC provided the additional fuel storage at no additional cost to BANELCO and its member-consumers as part of its commitment to Bantayanons in providing secure and reliable power.”

For the longer-term fix on electricity service in Bantayan island, INEC is constructing a 23.3-MW diesel power plant in the area which is due for completion within the third quarter of this year.

Once on commercial stream, the power plant will deliver power to BANELCO based on the terms of the 15-year power supply agreement it had underwritten with the INEC plant.

The supply contract for that facility was awarded to INEC following the conduct of competitive selection process (CSP) by the Bantayan power utility – a process that it will need to go through on its capacity contracting as set out by government rules and policies.

The power project in Bantayan is part of the continuing partnership between Vivant Energy and Gigawatt Power which have been cementing broad experience in providing electricity both to off-grid and on-grid service domains.