Phl needs more than 600-MW additional capacity for summer

MANILA, Philippines -  The Philippines will need more than 600 megawatts of additional capacity in the summer of next year due to the anticipated El Nino weather phenomenon, Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla said.

“We will need more than 600 MW. We are doing inventory of all possible generating capacity,” he said.

He said the Energy department is closely monitoring the mild El Nino weather condition as reported by the Department of Science and Technology last week.

The weather disturbance will lessen the output of hydropower plants in Luzon, a development that could tighten further the supply situation in early 2015.

“Based on the meeting with DOST last Friday, there is a possibility of a mild El Nino. We are still running the numbers this weekend to see the overall effect for 2015,” he said.

He said the Energy department is still tallying the projected output of the hydropower plants for 2015.

“My gauge is that the dams should be spilling water by next month.I f not, the projected performance of hydro for 2015 will have to be adjusted downwards,” Petilla said.

The Energy chief said the DOE continues to explore all options to avert a power shortage next year.

He remains hopeful that President Aquino would invoke Section 71 of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 which would allow the government, through the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) to tap additional power for the summer of 2015.

The Energy chief said the government also continues to look at the interruptible load program as an option that will add to the power supply.

“We are relying on voluntary ILP. However, the number of participants is still very low and invoking Section 71 is needed as a last resort,” he said.

The window to invoke Section 71 is narrowing but Petilla said there is still time until the end of September.

The Philippines will need 9,011 megawatts of power next year, higher than this year’s demand of 8,717 MW on the back of the projected growth in the economy.

Petilla has proposed the declaration of a state of emergency in the power sector to allow the government to tap additional capacity.

Under Petilla’s plan, the government, through the PSALM would rent bunker-fueled power facilities to fill up the projected shortfall of 300 to 500 MW.

Businessmen have supported the plan but President Aquino has yet to decide on the proposal.