DOE monitors Mindanao power situation as summer months near

MANILA, Philippines –  The Department of Energy (DOE) is closely monitoring the power situation in Mindanao as it assures that contingency measures are in place to ensure adequate supply of power especially during the coming summer months.

Energy Undersecretary Josefina Patricia Asirit said while the DOE has been acknowledging the power problem in Mindanao, the department, in cooperation with Mindanao stakeholders, will be coordinating closely to be able to mitigate the impact of the looming supply problem.

“We expect that [supply shortfall] during the summer months. However, since there is La Niña, we don’t expect the peak demand for Mindanao to be as high as the peak of 2010. Last year was abnormal. Although Pagasa says the rainfall of La Niña is not that reliable, we can take comfort in the fact that even without rainfall, the climate itself will not require that much electricity for ventilation,” she said.

“There are mitigating measures that would be pushed like, for example, the power barges that would be deployed; the entry of Iligan power plant into the system; and the additional capacity from Therma Marine contracted to National Grid Corp. of the Philippines as an ancillary service.”

Asirit said they also expect the electric cooperatives to cooperate on this endeavor. She said the DOE would be soliciting the help of all concerned parties to be able to avert another incident like what happened last year.

“It takes a concerted effort between the stakeholders and consumers,” she pointed out.

She also said the power situation in Mindanao at present is manageable but it would be prudent to be ready in cases of extreme weather (conditions which may affect power supply in the region.