Power in Mindanao assured

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines—Independent power producer Steag State Power Inc.  (SPI) has allayed fears of a power deficiency in the Mindanao grid and assured the public the island would have sufficient electricity during the May polls.

SPI’s assurance came in the wake of power outages that have hit many Mindanao areas as the drought rages. In Davao City, for example, consumers  have to contend with up to four hours of daily outages.

We have already taken the necessary steps to ensure that our power plants are optimally available during the (election period), said Dr. Bodo  Goerlich, SPI president and CEO, in an e-mailed statement to the  Inquirer.

SPI operates a coal-fired power plant in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental, with  a combined generating capacity of 210 megawatts that it feeds into the  Mindanao grid.

Goerlich said the company has successfully carried out and completed all  its preventive maintenance activities during the first quarter of the year  in preparation for the anticipated tighter Mindanao power supply during the  summer months.

SPI’s reaffirmation of commitment was a timely response on the creation of  the Power Task Force Election 2016 by the Department of Energy, headed by  secretary Zenaida Monzada, organized to ensure adequate and reliable power  supply before, during and after the May 9 polls.

The task force was created through DOE department circular DC2016-01-0001  issued in December.

The circular mandated all power suppliers and service providers,  particularly the distribution utilities, electric cooperatives and  power generation companies, to provide full support and participation to  ensure the orderly and credible conduct of the elections.

The task force members are the heads of the National Grid Corporation of  the Philippines (NGCP), National Electrification Administration (NEA),  Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Corporation (Psalm), National  Transmission Corporation (TransCo), and Manila Electric Company (Meralco).