OFFICIALS of a South Korean-based power plant in the City of Naga, Cebu have assured consumers in the Visayas that they can supply stable power despite the 6.5-magnitude earthquake that struck the region last week.
Seoghee Yoo, marketing manager for KEPCO-SPC Power Corporation (KSPC), said even though one of their two power plants in Barangay Colon, Naga is undergoing preventive maintenance, it will be online by July 20.
The 200-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Naga has been undergoing preventive maintenance since June 28 just before the quake occurred.
“We are exerting all efforts to hasten the preventive maintenance works so our power plants can operate at its full 200-megawatt capacity and help stabilize the power supply in the Visayas,” Yoo said in a statement.
The power company supplies electricity to Tacloban City in Leyte, Tagbilaran City in Bohol, the Mactan Electric Company in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu I Electric Cooperative Inc. (CEBECO 1), which caters Southern Cebu, Cebu II Electric Cooperative Inc. (CEBECO 2), which caters Northern Cebu, and all the five electric cooperatives in the entire Negros Island Region.
Yoo said KSPC is also ready to supply power to the Visayan Electric Company (VECO), through an emergency power supply agreement.
Even though KSPC has no power supply contract with VECO, they are ready to assist the local power distributor, Yoo said.
KSPC is also ready to generate the necessary capacity to help stabilize the Visayas grid, which is suffering from rotational brownouts due to limited supply from geothermal power plants in Leyte.
But KSPC will only prioritize its customers on the power supply, Yoo said.
Yoo also urged the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines to quickly restore lines going to Leyte and Bohol so that KSPC can continue its supply to the two provinces. (JKV)