2 hydropower turbines shut down

DAVAO CITY, Philippines—Rain lasting up to an hour daily and the return of power from a coal plant are barely making any dent in easing the shortage of electricity in Mindanao, which is expected to take a turn for the worse following the shutdown of two of three turbines of a major hydroelectric facility because of falling water levels in hydropower sources.

Rain started pouring in several Mindanao areas last week and continued until Tuesday, offering relief from the summer heat but not from the rotating brownouts that are plaguing the entire island for at least three months now.

Officials said they were hoping that the rain would boost water levels in rivers and lakes from where Mindanao’s main hydropower facilities—Angus and Pulangi—draw water.

The two hydropower facilities supply at least 60 percent of Mindanao’s power needs.

Brownouts would last up to 10 hours daily in many areas, aggravating the effects of the summer heat as people scorch in 33 degree Celsius temperatures with humidity of 70 percent.

In its website, the National Grid Corp. of the Phils., the country’s main power transmission firm, said Mindanao suffers from a shortfall in power supply of at least 230 megawatts. Peak demand reaches 1,190 MW while actual supply is 946 MW.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Mindanao would continue to experience rain or thunderstorm in the afternoon or evening due to a high pressure area until May 16.

Gener Quitlong, Pagasa forecaster, said an intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) was expected to develop on May 17 and bring more rain and thunderstorm to Mindanao and the rest of the country.

But Quitlong said no storm, which could bring more rain, is brewing.

Godofredo Guya, manager of the Davao del Sur Electric Coop. (Dasureco), told reporters in Digos City last week that the only way to boost power supply in Mindanao these days is to increase the level of water in Lake Lanao and Pulangi River in Bukidnon.

Napocor said it was forced to shut down two of three turbines in Pulangi because of falling water levels in the Pulangi River.

The state-owned power firm said unless rain came soon, it would be forced to also shut down the Agus hydropower facility if the water level at the reservoir connected to Lake Lanao fell below 699.15 meters. Last week, water level there was just 699.40 meters.

Authorities had expected the Steag coal plant owned by State Power Inc. (SPI) to help ease the power shortage but while the plant, with a generating capacity of 105 MW, has resumed operations, there was no relief in sight for the rotating brownouts plaguing this city alone.

Ross Luga, corporate affairs chief of the Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC), said the improved power supply has reduced the duration of the brownouts from a peak of five to two-and-a-half hours.

The supply of power, however, remains precarious as water level in Lake Lanao stays low, according to DLPC in a statement. Germelina Lacorte and Allan Nawal, Inquirer Mindanao