In Mindanao, small plants seen to ease power crunch

RESIDENTS of electricity-starved Mindanao will benefit from every single power plant that can be brought online over the short term, including those with smaller generating capacities.

The need for additional generating capacity in the country’s southernmost island is especially acute, given the Department of Energy’s (DOE) projection of a peak power deficit of 218 megawatts (MW) for this year, rising to as much as 406 MW in 2015.

“Mindanao needs all the power it can get until the bigger plants come in 2015,” Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla said in a text message to the Inquirer.

Because of this, the DOE is encouraging power generation firms to put up, not only long-gestation large power plants, but also smaller operations which can be brought online sooner.

“Hence, the small generating plants, which are faster to deploy … can alleviate the power needs of Mindanao,” he said.

One such project is the 15-MW hydroelectric plant in Bukidnon to be built by United Holdings Power Corp. at an estimated P2.5 billion.

United Holdings and its wholly owned affiliate, UHPC-Bukidnon Hydro Power 1 Corp. is led by president and CEO Dominic L. Sytin. The company recently signed two service contracts with the DOE for the development, construction and commissioning of a 10- and 5-MW mini hydroelectric plant that will generate electricity through a run-of-the-river scheme.

UHPC has commissioned consulting firm Vergel 3 Consult headed by Engineer Manuel M. Vergel III as consultant for the projects.