POWER supply in Mindanao continues to diminish even as the demand has continued to increase due to high temperature that prevails over most of the island.
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines placed the Mindanao Grid on "red alert" again yesterday due to the extremely volatile power situation on the island.
Based on the statement of NGCP spokesperson Milfrance Capulong, the capacity of the four hydro electric power plants that tap Agus and Pulangi river systems have further been reduced to 80 and 60 percent respectively due to the extremely low water levels in Lake Lanao and the Pulangi River System.
"The contingency reserve as of the moment is already zero. The water levels are really low," Capulong said.
Latest data showed that the hydro plants in Mindanao have reduced their power generation by as much as 400 megawatts.
"The continuing generation deficiency in the Mindanao grid has compelled the system to curtail the power load transmitted to grid customers," NGCP said in an advisory.
Further aggravating the situation is the planned outage of Power Barge 117, further increasing the power deficit by 50 megawatts.
Department of Energy chief Angelo Reyes said in a report that some areas in Mindanao are suffering from two to three hours brownout while the "difficult area" has experienced total blackouts that lasted for more than five hours.
Reyes also said they are looking at implementing the supply augmentation program in Mindanao to resolve the power crisis there. (Carlo P. Mallo/Sunnex )