Rotational blackouts in Mindanao to continue

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  - Mindanao has to bear with the continuous rotational blackout and inadequate power supply even if the independent power producer (IPP) Steag could restore its coal-fired power facility plant, according to a power utility official here.

In a statement, the Steag has expressed confidence that it could bring about 100 megawatts by May and complete restoration of the power facility by June.

The company's plant is supplying about 210 megawatts in the region. However, it bogged down on February 27 and the abrupt reduction of power forced the Agus hydropower plants to increase generation. Agus, however,  subsequently tripped off owing to problem in the capacity  of voltage transformer, triggering a  system-wide blackout in Mindanao.

Engr. George Ledesma, manager of the Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative (ZAMCELCO), however, said the full restoration of the Steag plants will not automatically mean a stable power in Mindanao due to the problems in the operation of the hydro-power plants.

He said Zamcelco, which is one of the five large power utilities in the country, has to struggle with about 80MW out from the normal supply of 90MW and has been implementing the rotational six to seven hours of blackout.

Ledesma said due to the climate change the hydro-power water source had also depleted.

“But  even if the supply of the Steag will come in we still have inadequate supply because of the hydro-plant,” Ledesma said. - Roel Pareño