The National Power Corporation (NPC) temporary shuts down 4 of its hydroelectric power plants and 2 other from its Independent Power producers (IPP) to undertake repairs.
A load reduction plan during peak hours followed as Mindanao Power Grid lowers the generation capacity.
National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) Mindanao Systems Operations Head Mr. Eugene Bicar announced that power plants undergoing preventive maintenance are the Agus I unit 2 (40 MW) & Agus 5 unit I (27 MW) due to clogged up trash racks, and Agus 2 unit 1 (60MW).
The Pulangi Hydro Electric Plant unit 3 in Maramag, Bukidnon has also been shut down due to low inflow and high thrust bearing temperature.
Aggravating the situation is the non-operational Western Mindanao Power Corporation power plant’s units 3 to 10 (80 MW) in Zamboanga City after power cables were burned.
Also shut down was the STEAG Mindanao Coal Fired Power Plant (210 MW) in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental since September 11 for a 12-day maintenance work.
To prevent overloading of transmission lines and address the generation problem, power distribution utilities and electric cooperatives in Mindanao has been requested to drop some of their feeders.
The power situation in Mindanao will experience limited power supply during peak hours – that is from 10AM to 4PM and 6PM to 8:30PM daily – based on actual system condition until curtailment is lifted.
This would mean that areas in Mindanao will have short rotational brownouts.
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines assured Mindanaoans that necessary steps have already been taken to restore normal power supply in Mindanao Grid to meet the power demands with comfortable level of generation reserves.
NGCP is the new private company that operates the country’s transmission network. It oversees over-all grid operations of the Luzon, the Visayas and the Mindanao power grids.
On September 15, Butuan experienced a blackout that started at 4 in the afternoon until 9 in the evening.
