Cebu's power woes still far from over

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu experiences another rotating brownouts as power shortage strikes again the Cebu-Negros-Panay grid where shortage run as high as 250 megawatts in the morning peak and 159 megawatts in the evening peak, because some power plants were either operating in a derated capacity or not operating at all.

Amid the power shortage, power distributor Visayan Electric Company Inc. has resorted to a rotating brownouts in the different areas within their franchise area.

In the morning, VECO spokesperson Ethel Natera said that they were advised by the National Grid Power Corporation to interrupt 178.47 MW as its share and have de-loaded 82 MW at around 2:00 in the afternoon.

An official from the Department of Energy, who requested not to be named, said that Cebu’s eight power plants, with a total capacity of 500 MW is only operating at a 372 MW.

This is because some of the power plants are no longer operating like the land-based gas turbine in the Naga Complex that has a capacity of 50 MW.

On the other hand, the Bohol Diesel Plant with capacity of 20 MW and the Panay Diesel I and 3 with a combined capacity of 45 MW were no longer contracted due to high cost of fuel in operating them.

The CNP grid’s projected demand yesterday evening is 1,046 MW but the grid’s capacity was only expected at 887 MW, thus a projected power deficiency of 159 MW was expected.

Cebu Thermal Power Plant II is still out in the grid and the two units of Palimpinon Geothermal Power Plant in Negros Oriental were operating in a derated capacity after they encountered trouble. These power plants were expected to be synchronized in the grid last Sunday evening.

Another factor that led to power shortage is that the Diesel Power Plant I in Naga is operating at a derated capacity of less than five megawatts. This plant has a capacity of 30 MW. Diesel Power Plant II, which has a capacity of 50 MW is likewise not operational.

“Karaan na gyud ang ato-ang mga planta. Mao na nga anytime pwede sila mawa sa system,” the energy official said.   (FREEMAN NEWS)