REYES TO PALACE: DECLARE POWER CRISIS IN MINDANAO
MANILA, MARCH 1, 2010 (STAR) By Donnabelle Gatdula - Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes recommended yesterday to President Arroyo to declare a power crisis in Mindanao after the electricity supply problem had worsened due to the El Niño dry spell.In a press statement, Reyes said the power supply situation in Mindanao has been critical for the past days because of reduced capacity of hydroelectric power plants in the region.
Reyes recommended to Mrs. Arroyo to invoke Section 71 (Electric Power Crisis Provision) of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001, which provides that “upon the determination by the President of an imminent shortage of the supply of electricity, Congress may authorize, through joint resolution, the establishment of additional generating capacity under such terms and conditions as it may approve.”
Officials of the energy department made the recommendation after a thorough deliberation of the power problem in Mindanao.
Reyes said power supply problem in Mindanao has worsened after the Agus power plant reduced capacity by 80 percent and the Pulangui power plants reduced operations by 90 percent due to low water level. The 35-megawatt (MW) Iligan Diesel Power Plant was also shut down for failing to pay taxes to the local government.
Reyes said hydroelectric power plants generate 53 percent of the energy needs in Mindanao, but the dry spell had reduced the power supply to 20 percent over the weekend.
Deputy Presidential Spokesman Gary said President Arroyo is seriously considering the recommendation of Reyes.
Olivar said Mrs. Arroyo is fully aware that Mindanao is the region with the biggest power deficit, with rotating brownouts lasting up to eight hours, and the most dependent area on hydroelectric power.
“The recommendation of Secretary Reyes will be given utmost consideration by the President,” Olivar said.
The Department of Energy had recently initiated Power Stakeholders’ Meetings held in key cities in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
Meanwhile, Rep. Juan Miguel “Mickey” Arroyo, chairman of the House Energy Committee, has called for a hearing this morning to discuss the power situation in Mindanao and other parts of the country.
During one of the recent stakeholders’ meeting, National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) president Walter Brown said the system demand in the Mindanao grid is anticipated to reach 1,221 MW next week, while the system reserve is expected to be negative.
The hydroelectric power plants capacity in Mindanao was reduced from 982 MW to 215 MW as of Feb. 27.
Power interruptions started with a one-hour blackout in Davao City, two hours in Iligan City, four to five hours in Cagayan de Oro and General Santos City, and seven hours in Zamboanga City.
Mati in Davao Oriental had no electricity for 24 hours. – With Paolo Romero, Ben Serrano
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2010 by
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved