CEBU, Philippines - The power outlook in Visayas is bright up until 2020 but an energy official said yesterday the region needs more power projects beyond that to meet the growing demand.
"We need more power beyond (2020) to satisfy our needs," Department of Energy-Visayas Director Antonio Labios said at the Energy Smart Visayas 2016 held at the Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu yesterday.
Labios said the Visayas grid is getting additional capacities this year up to 2020.
Based on the date he presented to energy sector players yesterday, the total capacity of committed power projects for the Visayas stood at 607.4 MW as of June 2016.
"We have enough capacity," the DOE official said.
Labios said there are various indicative projects that are enough to meet the demand beyond 2020 but these projects may or may not push through as they are still indicative.
These indicative projects have a total capacity of 2,508.9 MW, he said.
Currently, much of the power supply in Visayas comes from geothermal power plants, with coal sources coming in second.
Power supply also comes from wind, biomass, oil-based, hydro and solar sources.
The Philippine Energy Plan for 2016 through 2030 is being updated.
The implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 mandates the DOE to develop and update yearly the PEP.
Directions
Energy security is one of the directions of the plan.
Other strategic directions include the expansion of energy access, promotion of low-carbon future, ensuring the investments in power sector, climate-proofing of energy infrastructure and facilities, and the development of local energy plans.
The directions also include the development of separate plans for energy development, distribution, transmission and household electrification.
The privatization of the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) assets is also being sought.
PSALM was created when the country’s power industry was restructured under EPIRA.
It took over the ownership of all power generation assets of the National Power Corp.
The PEP also targets to triple the renewable energy capacity 2030.
Among the legislative agenda of DOE include the review of existing laws such as the EPIRA Law, Downstream Oil Deregulation Act of 1998 and the Renewable Energy Act of 2008. (FREEMAN)