Power firms commit 5,418MW in new capacity

MANILA, Philippines–The Department of Energy (DOE) is expecting 5,418.73 megawatts (MW) in additional power generation capacity from projects committed by the private sector in response to growing demand for electricity in the country.

Data from the DOE show that the new capacity is expected to come on-stream in the Luzon-Visayas grid and in the Mindanao grid from the last quarter of 2014 to end-2017.

Some 2,942.03MW in power generation capacity will be added in Luzon and 586MW in Visayas.

The Luzon and Visayas grids are connected and can share energy capacity as needed. For Mindanao, which is not connected to Luzon and Visayas, the expected additional capacity is 1,890.73MW.

Based on DOE figures, the installed capacity for the Luzon grid was about 12,790MW and dependable capacity was about 11,469MW. The peak demand for the grid was placed at more than 8,700MW (during summer).

However, Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho L. Petilla said actual capacity could be less than estimated while demand could be higher than the estimates reflected on paper.

The Aquino administration is seeking emergency powers to deal with the anticipated power crisis next year and Congress is set to come up with a detailed draft joint resolution by Oct. 20.

Exactly what the joint resolution would recommend depends on the parameters set by the DOE, Rep. Reynaldo V. Umali, chair of the House of Representatives’ committee on energy, said in an interview.

“We still have to know the final scope and details of the DOE’s plans for that period of tight supply next year,” Umali said.

The joint resolution of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which will have the force of law if passed, could give the administration the authority to contract diesel generating plants with capacity of about 300 megawatts.