Tongonan eyes partial resumption of operations

The Tongonan geothermal power plant in Leyte province is expected to partially resume operations in about a week, but bringing the 112.5-megawatt facility back to pre-quake performance could take 50 days, according to the Department of Energy.

The Tongonan power complex straddles the border of Ormoc City and Kananga town, home to the Leyte geothermal field and near the epicenter of the 6.5-magnitude quake that hit eastern Visayas on Thursday.

Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella on Saturday said in an advisory to reporters that Tongonan — operated by EDC (Energy Development Corp.) — could deliver to the grid 35 MW in seven to 10 days.

Fuentebella said Tongonan could deliver another 42 MW by Sept. 1, but to bring the complex in full capacity “may take 50 days.”

Fuentebella was part of a team, which included Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, that did an inspection of affected energy facilities in the area hit by the earthquake.

Part of the team’s itinerary was an inspection of the nearby 232.5-MW Malitbog geothermal plant, also located in Kananga, which is among EDC’s facilities that went out of service due to the earthquake.

Based on EDC advisory update, Malitbog would be able to deliver 150MW in seven to 10 days.

According to EDC, it was delivering to the grid about 460 MW when the quake struck. The company operates several generation assets in Leyte that account for about 600 MW in capacity.

EDC also reported damage to the Kananga Switchyard which it was operating. Its power plants is connected to the transmission facilities of National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP).

According to NGCP, the 138-kilovolt Ormoc-Tongonan Line — which was found leaning after the earthquake — has been reinforced and is ready to be energized as soon as supply from EDC becomes available.

“Once the line is energized, power will be restored in Ormoc City,” NGCP said in a bulletin.

“NGCP is presently creating a bypass line to connect the Tabango Substation to Ormoc Substation,” the company added. “Once the connection is established, power from Cebu will be able to flow to Ormoc substation, and power will be restored in Bohol, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, and Samar.”