Southern Mindanao demands higher power generation

ILIGAN CITY — Southen Mindanao is demanding higher power generation facility, according Dr. Allan Ortiz, President of the National Tansmission Corporation (Transco) in an exclusive interview with The STAR during the 4th anniversary of Transco here on Monday.

Ortiz said he had discussed the need for higher power generation facility with the Davao Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

To date, permission to build the Abaga-Kirahon, Kitahon-Maramag, Maramag-Bunawan line was granted by Energy Secretary Rafael Lotilla.

This will bring additional power from Pulangi in Bukidnon and secure the supply of Southern Mindnanao for another three years until TRANSCO completes the project in Abaga-Kirahon and the 200-megawatt coal-fired plant in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental in Northen Mindanao, Ortiz said.

TRANSCO’s goal, according to Ortiz is, for Mindanao’s power supply to come from the geothermal supply in Kabalian, Southern Leyte via submarine cable. Hopefully, this would be realized by 2010.

However, to attain power security in Mindanao huge investments in infrastructure are needed

To build the submarine cable from Leyte to Mindanao, $250 million is needed, said Ortiz.

In the meantime, Transco will tap power from the Mt. Apo goethermal plant in Davao to augment the present demand while the National Power Corporation (Napocor) will be drigging the silted Pulangi River.