Mindanao businessmen demand more power plants

FILE PHOTO/PILILLAONLINE.COM

MANILA, Philippines―The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)-Southwestern Mindanao chapter pushes for additional power plants to resolve the long-standing power crisis in Mindanao.

The PCCI statement was made ahead of the government’s self-imposed deadline of ending the power crisis in Mindanao.

Regional governor for PCCI-Southwestern Mindanao Rey D. Billena said that despite the construction of additional power plants in Mindanao, particularly Aboitiz Power Corp’s 300-MW and San Miguel Corp’s 1,200-MW power plants in Davao del Sur; and FDC Utilities Inc’s 400-MW power facility in Cagayan de Oro, these facilities will not be able to counter the effects of the worsening power shortage in the region in the long term.

Billena said that more coal power plants are needed not only to resolve the power crisis but also to sustain the demand for energy by Mindanao consumers.

Also, Billena stated that the state-owned hydroelectric power plant in Mindanao cannot keep up with the demand for energy in the region especially during the summer season.

The Department of Energy has forecast energy demand in Mindanao to grow by five percent.

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