NPC debunks power shortage scenario painted by Peco, Mirant-PPC
CABUNAGAN
Iloilo City does not actually need Power Barge 101 coming from Cebu to avert a looming power shortage this months of May and June.
This was learned from officials of National Power Corporation (NPC) who met with members of the media last Friday.
Rolando Bulfa, Administration and Finance Manager of Panay Diesel Power Plant (PDPP) in Dingle, Iloilo said NPC's overall power capacity coming from its existing plants is more than enough to cover the expected shortage of Mirant-Panay Power Corporation (PPC), the power supplier for Panay Electric Company (Peco).
Mirant-PPC earlier warned that they could not be able to meet the power demands of the city this May and June. Mirant-PPC reportedly could only supply 79 megawatts (MW) as against the city's expected power demand of 81.90 MW.
The shortage reportedly could result in rotating brownouts and load shedding in certain areas of the city.
Tito Cabunagan, Operations and Maintenance Manager of PDPP, said the 3 MW deficit of Mirant-PPC could be covered by NPC's existing plants if only Peco enters into a contract with them.
Cabunagan explained NPC's total power capacity for Panay Island is 142 MW (NPC Panay's total installed capacity of 112 MW plus an additional 30 MW coming from the submarine cable from Negros).
He said, the power demand for the entire Panay Island excluding Iloilo City is 120 MW which means NPC has a surplus power of 22 MW which is more than enough to cover Mirant-PPC's deficit to Peco.
Cabunagan said, all that is needed is for Peco to enter into a supply contract with NPC and the latter could provide its power needs.
"As of now NPC and Peco do not have a relationship since Peco gets its power from Mirant-PPC," Cabunagan said.
Cabunagan disclosed that there is no problem with interconnection as Peco has existing lines used before it transferred sourcing power from the old Lopez-owned PPC in 1997.
He said it is just a matter of coordination among Peco, NPC and the National Transmission Commission (Transco) which takes charge of power transmission.
Earlier, City Mayor Jerry Treñas said that the only solution to the city's looming power crisis is the transfer of Power Barge 101, which has a 24 MW capacity, based in Cebu to Iloilo City.
Treñas along with the city's legislative officials requested President Arroyo to have Power Barge 101 moved to the city which the latter approved.
Bulfa, however, disclosed that Power Barge 101 could reach Iloilo by the end of June yet as it is now on drydock in Batangas for some repairs.
December last year, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) ordered Peco to connect with Napocor's Cebu Negros Panay (CNP) Grid so that in the event Mirant-PPC incurs power shortages they could have alternative power source.
To date however Peco has yet to comply with the said order.