With memo, DOE eases blackouts

The number of areas in Mindanao experiencing rotating blackouts has been reduced, as the power supply deficit on the island has fallen to roughly 160 megawatts compared to the previous month’s shortage of 360 MW, the Department of Energy (DOE) said Tuesday.

The DOE said this was largely achieved by the department issuing a circular to help rationalize the power supply in Mindanao. Under the circular, Mindanao’s electric cooperatives are mandated to source additional power—even from the more expensive diesel-fired facilities—to supply their electricity requirements.

Electric coops’ refusal

Energy officials earlier said  the reason for the rotating blackouts of up to four hours being experienced in Mindanao was the refusal of the electric cooperatives on the island to buy additional power from diesel-fired plants in the face of the lowered capacity of their traditional and preferred source, the cheap hydropower plants.

The energy department said Malaybalay, Dipolog, Dapitan, Valencia, Camiguin, Panabo, Digos, Tagum, Mati, Cotabato, Surigao, Butuan and Cabadbaran were no longer experiencing power interruptions as a result of the circular.

However, data from the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines showed that there were a number of areas without power as the supply deficit stood at 137 MW as of Tuesday.

Other solutions

Energy Secretary Jose Rene D. Almendras said the DOE was also evaluating other solutions to help shore up the power supply in Mindanao.

These included the operation of the Iligan diesel power plant (IDPP), which would be able to produce an initial 15 MW to 20 MW and even increase this upon rehabilitation, and the rehabilitation of the 700 MW Agus and Pulangui hydropower complex.

The Pulangui plant will be rehabilitated this month and the DOE is already studying ways to mitigate its effect on the power supply, while the Agus plant will be rehabilitated in June, Almendras said.

Additional contracts

The power situation in Mindanao is also expected to improve once the electric cooperatives are able to obtain provisional authority for the additional power supply contracts from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

The cooperatives have to date already contracted a total of 192 MW, of which 20 MW are subject to provisional approval from the ERC.

“We hope that electric cooperatives, power generators and all other stakeholders will continue to cooperate to temporarily address the power situation in Mindanao and this will be a good start toward a long-term measure needed to provide a stable power supply in the region.” Almendras said.