30 megawatts from Leyte power plant back on stream

CEBU, Philippines - The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines said yesterday that 50 percent or 30 megawatts of the 60-megawatt Mahanagdong A Geothermal Power Plant - Unit 2 in Leyte has went back on stream dawn yesterday.

Belinda Sales Canlas, NGCP Corporate Communications Officer - Visayas, said the full 60 megawatts from Unit 2 will be available by Wednesday, February 10.

Other power plants like the 50-MW Cebu Thermal 1 Plant and the 50-MW gas turbines of Salcon Power Corporation are still under preventive maintenance shutdown to make way for maintenance works or repairs, which will improve power facilities and services.

NGCP also reiterated that it does not own nor operate and maintain these power generation facilities.

As the system operator, NGCP's main responsibilities are to transmit power and operate the power system in accordance with the Philippine Grid Code.

Since, February 1, 2010, the Visayas Grid went on a power shortfall during peak hours due to generation deficiency.

Unit 1 of Mahanagdong A. Geothermal Power Plant will be back to the grid on February 16. Cebu Thermal, on the other hand, will be made available starting February 23. – Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/JMO (THE FREEMAN)