Skip to content
OurVote2022logo
mindanews-fact-check-logo-1
  • Business
  • Peace Process
  • Governance
  • Travel
  • Arts & Culture
  • Special Reports
  • Mindaviews
  • Pictures
Menu
  • Business
  • Peace Process
  • Governance
  • Travel
  • Arts & Culture
  • Special Reports
  • Mindaviews
  • Pictures

Another Mindanao power plant shuts down

  • Froilan Gallardo

-

  • May 8, 2014
Share this story

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews / 8 May) – The 105-megawatt addition from Steag State Power came hardly a relief for the power-starved Mindanao consumers after another diesel-fired power plant was shut down for maintenance in Zamboanga City, the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) said.

Brian Diosma, of the MinDA Power Monitoring Committee, said the 50MW power plant owned by Western Mindanao Power Corporation in Barangay Sangali, Zamboanga City went offline early this week.

“The management notified us last May 6 that they have scheduled their diesel-fired plant for maintenance,” Diosma said.

He said the company under the Alcantara and Sons (Alsons) power group promised that the power plant would be operational again “in a couple of days.”

Last Wednesday night, Steag started supplying 105MW of electricity after one of its power turbines went back online. Operation of the company’s two turbines was disrupted during a Mindanao-wide fault last Feb. 27.

Rafael Paguio, vice president of the Cagayan Electric Power and Light Company, Inc. (CEPALCO), said the utility received only 10MW from Steag’s supply on Thursday, the morning after the coal plant went back online.

Paguio said the additional 10MW mean that 30 minutes were shaved off from the 7.5-hour scheduled brownout in Cagayan de Oro.

“We are breaking again the schedule brownouts into two groups to ease the consumers because we have been receiving many complaints,” he said.

Paguio said CEPALCO received a total of 39MW Thursday morning. He said the city requires 140MW of electricity every day.

He said CEPALCO is presently drawing 42MW from its Minergy power plant; 2MW from the Bobonawan River run off project ; and 1MW from its solar plant in Barangay Indahag.

“We are still on the deficit. That is the reason why we cannot ease the brownouts,” Paguio said.

The power situation in Zamboanga and Davao cities are also grim.

Omar Sahi, Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative (Zamcelco) president, said Zamcelco is only receiving 47MW while their daily peak demand is 85MW.

He said this forced Zamcelco to implement a 10-hour brownout in Zamboanga City.

Journalist Frencie Carreon said the brownouts in Zamboanga City also extends by as much as 14 hours.

“We can barely work. There are no news stories coming out about our predicament,” Carreon said.

In Davao City, rotating brownouts have been increased from six to 7.5 hours.

But MinDA’s Diosma said that the DLPC reported that their precarious power situation has been eased by Steag’s 105MW.

“Davao Light might ease their brownouts to only four hours,” he said.

Mindanao’s electric cooperatives also fared well in the present power crisis since many of them resorted to buying modular generating sets to feed them with electricity.

Marebec Cagalawan, communications officer of the Misamis Oriental Rural Electric Service Cooperative 1 (MORESCO-1), said their franchise area, which covers the western towns in Misamis Oriental and several mountain villages in Cagayan de Oro, is sparsely populated.

She said factories in the area have contributed their spare electricity for use by the other consumers.

“We are only experiencing two-hour brownouts,” Cagalawan said.

Your perspective matters! Leave a comment below and let us know what you think. We welcome diverse viewpoints and encourage respectful discussions. Don't hesitate to share your ideas or engage with others.
Advertisement
Rakrakan
Follow us on Facebook
Facebook
The MindaNews Podcast
-- ad here--

TOP STORIES

14 y/o student caught carrying unlicensed gun in North Cotabato

Mindanews September 25, 2023 6:56 pm

FACT CHECK: Sara Duterte did not blame rallies for 2-M slump in enrollment

Fact Check September 25, 2023 5:48 pm

NorMin produces less amid increase in coffee bean production nationwide

Froilan Gallardo September 23, 2023 10:19 am

Approval, trust ratings of Bongbong, Sara down – PUBLiCUS Asia survey

H. Marcos C. Mordeno September 22, 2023 2:46 pm

2 ride-hailing companies awaiting endorsement from Davao City Council

Miah Christine Bontilao September 22, 2023 2:21 pm

MINDAVIEWS

TURNING POINT: The Toothless Price Cap

William R. Adan September 19, 2023 10:39 am

UNDERSTANDING OUR HERITAGE (2): The Hindu-Buddist influences in our culture

Greg Hontiveros September 17, 2023 4:21 pm

TAUSUG IN DOHA: Always opt for the Best

Gamson Jr Mawallil Quijano September 17, 2023 2:52 pm
Read more MINDAVIEWS

BUSINESS NEWS

18 homegrown cafés joining Davao Coffee Crawl

Antonio L. Colina IV September 20, 2023 3:12 pm

25 delegates from Mindanao to join international expo in Sabah

Antonio L. Colina IV September 13, 2023 2:00 pm

Senator Villar cites EU’s GSP+ during tuna congress

Bong S. Sarmiento September 7, 2023 5:21 pm

Davao Region’s inflation rate lowest in Mindanao

Antonio L. Colina IV September 5, 2023 9:53 pm

Japanese firm looking for more suppliers of coconut-based food products

Mindanews August 31, 2023 2:35 pm

95 exhibitors to join Davao Agri Trade Expo

Antonio L. Colina IV August 23, 2023 5:48 pm

ARTS & CULTURE

Sarangani writers showcase literary works in Philippine Book Festival

Genory Vanz Alfasain August 27, 2023 4:11 pm

INTERACTIVE MAP | Cagayan de Oro Higalaay Festival 2023

Yas D. Ocampo August 25, 2023 2:00 pm

Davao City Events | Palawud x Holodeck, Budots: The Craze

Mindanews August 19, 2023 10:10 am

Kadayawan Festival 2023 event guide

Yas D. Ocampo August 7, 2023 4:01 pm

The MindaNews Podcast: Aubrey DS and the creative pursuits that drive us

Mindanews July 10, 2023 7:06 pm
eric gancio of yano

The MindaNews Podcast: Davao-based Eric Gancio and the return of Yano

Yas D. Ocampo June 2, 2023 5:15 pm

MindaNews is the news service arm of the Mindanao Institute of Journalism. It is composed of independent, professional journalists who believe and practice people empowerment through media.

23C Saturn St. GSIS Subdivision, Davao City Philippines Tel. No.: 082 297 4360 editor [at] mindanews.com
Facebook Twitter

© MindaNews 2016 -2023 | All Rights Reserved

About Us

Privacy Policy