Critical power situation expected by December 2015

CEBU, Philippines - The critical period of the power supply situation in the Visayas Grid is expected to start by December 2015 with the projected deficit of 60 megawatts (MW) instead of 2019 yet, according to the Department of Energy.

Lisa Go, of DOE Manila, made the presentation Friday at the meeting of the Regional Development Council (RDC) 7 Sub-Committee on Power.

Go reported that on available capacity, critical period starts on November to December 2014 with projected deficit of 30 to 90 MW; April to December 2015 with projected deficit of 80 MW to the maximum of 220 MW.

On the available capacity plus the committed projects, the projected deficit on December 2015 is 60 MW; 70 to 100 MW for April to June 2016; and 120 to 305 MW for December 2017 to December 2018.

This prompted fourth district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon, who attended the meeting, to ask how to address this possible power shortage.

“In Congress during the budget hearing, the (Energy) Secretary has not categorically stated that we are well-protected. That is what we are worried,” Salimbangon said.

Salimbangon said that while they are pushing for more industries to come, the number one question that will always be asked is whether there is sufficient power.

Go reported that there are six committed projects that can generate 429.6 MW for the Visayas.

These are the 2 x 135 MW Concepcion Coal-fired Power Plant in Iloilo, the TPC Coal-Fired Power Plant Expansion Project (1 x 82 MW Coal-Fired Power Plant) in Toledo City, the Nasulo Geothermal Project in Negros Oriental, the Villasiga HEP in Antique, the Asian Energy System Biomass Project in Cebu; and the 18 MW San Carlos Biomass Project in Negros Occidental.

“We believe that this committed project of about 430 megawatts will cover those shortfall per demand projection and that will be on until 2015,” said DOE 7 regional director Antonio Labios.

Labios said that aside from committed projects, there are also indicative projects which are already completed based on the financial transactions.

 â€œBeyond 2015, which is mentioned as critical, we hope that the indicative power projects which amount to 723 MW will cover the next shortfall beyond 2015,” Labios further said.

Go said that these indicative projects are currently undergoing different stages of development  whether completing feasibility studies, contracts, or permits, and others.

She said that the commitment right now is to really look into and help the investors make their processing as fast as they can and for the local government  units ready to accept the project rather than be barriers to incoming projects.

National Economic Development Authority 7 officer-in-charge Efren Carreon said that the projection only shows the recent economic performance of the region.

Carreon said that the role of the RDC sub-committee on power is also very critical in monitoring the implementation  of the project.

“It would take some time, two or three years on the average, for a power plant to become operational,” Carreon said.

Salimbangon supported the claim of Carreon that the increase in power demand indicates progress.

“Everybody is hoping for this, it shows very clearly that now there is that very bright future,” Salimbangon added.

Among the Visayas sub grids, Cebu reportedly has the highest demand and Bohol the lowest.

The demand in Cebu is even higher than the combined demands in Panay, Leyte-Samar and Negros sub grids.  (FREEMAN)