DOE eyes add’l 447 MW capacity by March

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Energy (DOE) is looking at a possible addition in power capacity of 447 megawatts by March 2015 as it races against time to avert a looming power shortage in the summer of 2015.

Documents from the department showed that as of October 8, the Luzon grid may have additional 100 MW from First Gen Corp.’s Avion plant which will come in by April 2015; 36 MW from the uprating of Millennium Energy’s Limay plant to be ready by March 2015; 20 MW as a result of the rehabilitation of the Bauang plant, also by March 2015; 10 MW from Petron’s Bataan plant to be ready by December 2014; 60 MW from JG Summit’s Batangas plant for commissioning in January 2015 and 20 MW from the Botocan hydroelectric plant in Laguna for completion in December 2014 for a sub-total of 246 MW.

The balance of the 447 MW will come from a conservative estimate of 101 MW from Interruptible Load Program and 100 MW from Millennium Energy’s Navotas facility which is targeted to be ready by March 2015, documents also showed.

The 447 MW in additional capacity has a “99 percent chance” of coming in by March 2015, according to the documents.

The Luzon grid is facing a shortage of 900 MW next year, higher than the previous estimate of 600-800 MW on the back of a delay in the 150 MW coal plant expansion of DMCI and due to the effect of the mild El Niño weather disturbance.

In a circular published yesterday, the DOE said there was a need to conserve power given the tightness in supply and to ensure reliability and security of power supply in the country.

“The DOE enjoins all electricity consuming sectors, particularly residential industrial,  commercial establishments including public facilities operations of advertising billboards and all the electricity end users to implement demand side management programs and other energy conservation measures to reduce the country’s demand for supply of electricity,” he said.

In the case of government offices and buildings, Petilla said where adequate ventilation is available, all government agencies and offices shall discontinue the use of their air-conditioning units when weather permits.

“In cases where aircon units are to be used, the thermostat shall be set to no lower than 25 degrees Celsius,” Petilla said in the circular.