Therma South gives Oro six megawatts

By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent

DAVAO-BASED Therma South Inc. started giving six megawatts to the Cagayan Electric Power and Light Co. (Cepalco). But with an average 30-mw shortage here, six megawatts would still be insufficient to free the city from the daily blackouts that have been crippling it since last late month.

Cepalco vice president Ralph Paguio said Cepalco has been receiving a six-megawatt boost from the Aboitiz Power Corp.-owned plant since Friday.

But the additional power supply from Davao is still unreliable because it forms part of a “testing.” While the supply from Unit 1 of the Therma South plant would cushion a bit the impact of the lingering Mindanao power shortage, Paguio said the city and other parts of Misamis Oriental under the Cepalco franchise could still expect blackouts especially during peak hours. The hours considered peak hours are from 11 am to 3 pm, and from 6 pm to 9 pm.

The power situation in the city would be worse without Minergy, Cepalco’s sister company, that has been generating 42 mw, and Cepalco’s own Bobonawan and Cabulig hyrdroelectric plants, and solar power plant in Indahag, this city.

“Kining six megawatts gikan sa Therma South, dili gyud kini constant kay usahay mo-ubos, usahay mosaka, kay kini nga power supply tipik lamang kini sa testing sa generation sa Unit 1 sa maong planta,” Paguio said.

He said Cepalco has still come up with a daily blackout schedule. (see related story) Paguio said the power supply from Therma South is not covered by a contract but is given as a “favor” to Cepalco. Cepalco however contracted 20-mw from Unit 2 of the Therma South plant but the supply is expected to be delivered starting next year.

Paguio said the Davao-based firm could not yet deliver the 20-mw supply because the plant sustained damages. At presstime, the power supply was short of 60 megawatts, said Paguio, quoting the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP).

Paguio said he was also informed that the Pulangi Hydroelectric Power Plant 4 of the National Power Corp.-Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (Napocor-Psalm) suffered air cooling leak and power intake problems.