Power curtailment hits Mindanao anew

ZAMBOANGA CIT, Philippines  – Power curtailment has again hit a vast area of Mindanao just as President Aquino expressed hope that he could end the power crisis on the vast island before his term ends in 2016.

This, as the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) issued a red alert notice not because of dwindling water levels but of technical problems in power plants.

Mindanao, which is largely dependent on hydroelectric power, has been experiencing power shortage due to low water supply since February due to the El Niño-caused dry spell.

In an alert notice issued to the Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative (Zamcelco), NGCP manager Reynerio Ramos said two-hour curtailment in the power supply will again be experienced daily.

The NCGP said it issued the red alert notice effective yesterday, explaining that its contingency reserve is already zero due to planned outage of the Pulangi 4 hydroelectric power plant; the Agus 6, which is supplying only 20 megawatts; and the emergency shutdown of Agus 2.

The power curtailment was also due to the reduced capability of the Agus power plants and the Pulangi hydroelectric plant.

The non-operation of the APTM1 and APTM2 power barges due to transmission line constraints also contributed to the power curtailment.

Mr. Aquino, who was in Davao del Sur Thursday to inaugurate the 42.5-MW Sibulan hydropower project, which is seen to make a significant contribution to the Mindanao power grid, was hoping the power crisis in Mindanao, which he described as a “nightmare,” would be over soon.