Rotational blackouts extend in Zamboanga del Sur

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Daily rotational blackouts have affected Zamboanga del Sur for a week as a result of an insufficient power supply from the Mindanao grid, a power cooperative said.

The Zamboanga del Sur Electric Cooperative -1 (Zamsureco-1) said they it was prompted to implement the daily rotational three-hour outtage after one of the two units of the 210- megawatt coal-fired power plants of the STEAG State Power Inc. malfunctioned.

The power supplier's plant based in Villanueva town, Misamis Oriental has since undergone repair.

The Zamsureco-1 needs at least 34 megawatts to supply its close to 70,000 consumers in at least 24 towns and a city during peak hours. The supplier, however, couprovide only 29 megawatts.

The rotational brownout will be lifted by the Zamsureco-1 once the operation of the STEAG coal-fired power plants has resumed to normal.