Transco looking for alternative power sources for Mindanao

DAVAO CITY — The National Transmission Corp. (Transco) is looking for alternative power sources for Mindanao to avoid massive power outages which have lately affected the entire island.

"Clearly, there is a lack of alternative sources because Mindanao has only one big source and that is the Agus power system which serves the whole island. And everytime technical deficiencies occur, you can expect everyone will be affected," Transco president Allan Ortiz said.

Last Dec. 13, Mindanao again experienced another power outage, affecting 96 percent of the island, due to technical glitches in the system.

"It could not be 100 percent really because four percent of what Agus produces is directly transmitted to the lines in Cagayan de Oro City," Ortiz said.

He said Mindanao has a total dependable capacity of 1,100 megawatts, although power consumption often reaches 900 MW.

Ortiz said new power sources have to be tapped for Mindanao since the existing lines are vulnerable not only to technical problems but also to terrorist attacks.

"We are also depending much on the cooperation of the community to guard our transmission lines, aside from the security provided by both the military and the police in certain areas," he said.

Ortiz cited the need for the 27 other power distribution utilities in Mindanao to enter into a lease-purchase agreement with Transco to enable them to expand and improve their services for the benefit of the island’s nearly 20 million consumers.

Of the 30 power distribution utilities in Mindanao, only the Cotabato Electric Cooperative Inc., South Cotabato Electric Cooperative I and Sultan Kudarat Electric Cooperative signed last Dec. 14 memoranda of agreement with Transco for the purchase of sub-transmission lines in their respective areas.