PGMA to grace launching of modular power plant
ROXAS CITY -- The power situation here will improve soon with the commissioning of a 15-megawatt (mw) modular power plant in Panit-an, Capiz tomorrow (Friday) by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
The full operation of the power plant is seen as a big boon to the development of the tourism and other industries in Panay Island, which boasts of the world-famous Boracay tourist paradise.
The 15-mw modular power plant is located at the National Transmission Corporation (TRANSCO) sub-station in Barangay Timpas, Panit-an, some 15 kilometers south of this city.
The President will be briefed on the power situation in Capiz as well as in the other Panay provinces by Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes.
As one of the latest government projects to boost power supply in the island, the15-mw modular power plant will augment the local power supply being distributed by the Capiz Electric Cooperative (CAPELCO) beef up the power supply in neighboring Aklan province, the site of the world-famous Boracay Island.
At present, Capiz power supply was placed at about 39 megawatts, but the whole Panay Island has been experiencing rotating brownouts since the last quarter of 2007 due to the preventive maintenance being undertaken by the National Power Corporation (Napocor) on its generating units in Dingle, Iloilo and Negros Island.
During the Local Peace and Security Assembly for Western Visayas in Bacolod City last month, the President underscored the need for the construction of more power plants to avert a looming power shortage in Western Visayas, including Panay Island.
Aside from being the center of education, trade and commerce in Western Visayas, Panay Island is also one of the country's major tourism hubs.
The island's power supply shortfall of 61.7 megawatts would be eased with the setting up of modular power generator sets and the establishment of new power plants.
To avert a serious power supply shortage, the Cebu-Negros-Panay grid would need a total of 261 mw by 2010, the Department of Energy (DOE) said. (PNA)