DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/20 Apr) – The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said that the power deficiency of about 100 megawatts Monday was the reason of the unplanned power interruption in Mindanao.
In a press statement, the NGCP, however, clarified that it is helpless when it comes to power generation shortage as they “do not own, operate or shut down generating plants, but only operates the power transmission system.”
Lawyer Cynthia Alabanza, NGCP spokesperson, however, said that the transmission company can only give advisories on power interruption based on information on available power capacity, peak demands and power reserves being provided them by the generation plants.
Power fed to the Mindanao grid from the various generation plants have been deficient by approximately 100mw and power deficiency may continue for the whole duration of the Holy Week as power plants go on maintenance checks.
The NGCP, in a statement, said that approximately 100 mw of power was taken out of the Mindanao grid due to the unexpected unavailability of Agus 6 (Units 2 and 4), Agus 7 (Units 1 and 2), and Agus 1 (Unit 1). It added that following plants are operational but derated by the owners and operators: Agus 1 (30 mw), Agus 2 (90 mw), Agus 5 (50 mw), Agus 6 (100 mw), Western Mindanao Power Corp. (90 mw), Southern Power Philippines Corp. (40 mw).
NGCP said that because of this situation, it implemented load shedding across Mindanao. “The load shedding is then implemented across the Mindanao grid through the area control centers of NGCP in Cagayan de Oro, GenSan, Davao, Butuan, Zamboanga, and Iligan,” the company added.
Meanwhile, the Cagayan de Oro Light and Power Corp. (Cepalco) said that a two-hour rotating power interruption is going to hit the city until the power supply in the Mindanao grid is normalized.
Earlier, the National Power Corporation (NPC) announced the maintenance operations on Pulangi IV in Bukidnon during the Holy Week. The said hydro electric plant has an installed capacity of 255 mw but has only been generating at most 85 mw due to problems with its reservoir and dam canals.
The NPC, however, did not offer a public explanation on the switching off of the other power plants it is operating. (BenCyrus G. Ellorin / MindaNews)
