‘Power supply in MM, Luzon sufficient’

MANILA, Philippines - Electricity supply in Metro Manila and Luzon is sufficient despite the month-long maintenance shutdown of the Malampaya natural gas plant in Palawan, the chairman of the House energy committee said yesterday.

Mindoro Oriental Rep. Reynaldo Umali said that based on reports he has been getting from stakeholders since last week’s Malampaya shutdown, there is an excess supply of about 900 megawatts (MW).

Umali said he hoped the situation would hold throughout the summer months this year, during which the Department of Energy (DOE) had projected a supply shortfall in Luzon.

If the situation of excess supply holds, it means that the feared shortage would not happen, he said.

The House of Representatives and the Senate have adjourned for a six-week Lenten break without approving a joint resolution that would give President Aquino emergency powers to deal with the projected Luzon shortage.

Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, who sits in the House energy committee, said the 900 MW surplus is apparently in addition to about 1,000 MW that could be tapped from the interruptible load program (ILP).

“The ILP has not kicked in because there are still sufficient reserves. The program will run only when there is a ‘red alert’ or a tight supply situation like when a major plant suddenly breaks down,” Albano said.

“Hopefully, no such breakdown happens so that consumers in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will not experience rotating brownouts,” he said.

Participants registered under the ILP would be disconnected from the Luzon grid and shift to using their own generators once there is “red alert.”