Blackouts hit Mindanao anew

DAVAO CITY, Philippines  – A large part of Mindanao is experiencing daily blackouts due to the low water level at its hydropower sources, including Lake Lanao in Marawi City and Pulangi River in Bukidnon.

The National Grid Power Corp. of the Philippines said Mindanao had a power deficiency of – 248 megawatts as of yesterday.

The Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee said the water level in Lake Lanao is 1.86 meters below its normal level of 701.10 meters while Agus Dam’s water level is nearing its minimum operating level of 359 meters.

The water level in Pulangi Dam is .62 meters below normal.

The Cagayan de Oro Power and Light Co. (Cepalco) imposed a five-hour blackout in Cagayan de Oro City and parts of Misamis.

Cepalco also cited the preventive maintenance shutdown of the 105 MW Unit 2 of the 210 MW STEAG coal-fired power plant in Misamis Oriental.

Cepalco’s franchise area covers 65 barangays in Cagayan de Oro and the towns of Tagoloan, Villanueva and Jasaan in Misamis Oriental.

Zamboanga City has been experiencing six to nine-hour blackouts due to the reduced capacity of Agus 6 hydropower electric plant from 60 MW to 30 MW. 

The Zamboanga del Sur and Sultan Kudarat electric cooperatives are implementing a five-hour blackout and Surigao del Norte is experiencing 4.5 hours of power interruption. Davao City is also experiencing two-hour blackouts. – With Gerry Lee Gorit, Roel Pareño