Hydro-electric power plant to be built in Oriental Mindoro

CALAPAN CITY, Philippines  – A three-megawatt hydro-electric power plant will be constructed in the southern part of Oriental Mindoro, in Bansud town, to help resolve the unavoidable increasing of power rates in this island province.

 Governor Alfonso Umali, Jr., announced that the provincial government is now coordinating with the Department of Energy (DOE), the Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Ormeco), and the private independent power producer Sun West Company (SUWECO) for the immediate installation or construction of the power facilities using indigenous water resources in Sitio Buriao, Brgy. Conrazon, Bansud.

 Umali disclosed that the result of the studies conducted by SUWECO clearly showed the potentials of the said barangay in hosting the hydro-electric power plant. 

The governor also said the project was already approved and both endorsed by DOE and Ormeco as the two agencies noted that the project is expected to help lower the current electric rates just like Catanduanes, where SUWECO also has the same undertaking.  Umali said the local electric cooperative there only charges P5 per kilowatt-hour of power from their consumers. 

The province will be under no obligation to pay for any expenses similar to loan, according to the Oriental Mindoro governor, as the provincial administration only enticed SUWECO to establish the power plant because of the “enormous” potential of the target site.  The said hydro-electric plant will serve as an independent power producer for the province and this is expected to cut the cost of fuel being bought to the National Power Corp. (NAPOCOR). 

It can be noted that from P6.50 per kilowatt, the government-owned NAPOCOR hiked to P8 for every kilowatt hour the electric charged being passed on member-consumers.

Aside from Bansud, it was learned that SUWECO is now studying the possibility of putting up the same project in another site in Brgy. Lisap in the municipality of Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro.  The company is just awaiting the approval of DOE for this. 

Umali hopes that when the venture of the said independent power producer be realized, the cost of power in the province will considerably drop, frequent brownout here will be minimized and Oriental Mindoro can even export energy in nearby provinces.

— By Junacho Mahusay