MINDANAO'S power situation will remain stable even as most parts of the island are experiencing the weather phenomenon called the El Niño.
Bryan Diosma, Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee (MPMC) technical head, told Sun.Star Davao in an interview that with the entry of the fossil-based and renewable energy projects in Mindanao, the island is in a better position to push through with stable power supply amid a prolong dry spell.
MPMC is chaired by Mindanao Development Authority (Minda).
"For Mindanao, we are looking at a better position, this is because of the entry of the committed power plants," he said.
But Diosma emphasized that the challenge here is if the committed power projects will not come in as schedule.
"At present, since we last checked it, we can say that all the committed projects are on track but nothing is in assurance since anything could happen. But we are hopeful that all the projects will come in as scheduled," he said.
He also said that this situation is the "perfect example" why there is a need for Mindanao to push for balanced power mix.
"The position of Minda is to have a diversified and balanced energy mix. It is essential to the grid for situations like this, when El Niño occurred, our hydropower plants will be greatly affected so it is best to tap the fossil-based power plants, Same as if magka-problema sa fossil based power plants, we have hydro plants, solar, geothermal among others to tap, this will translate to stable power supply," Diosma explained.
He pointed out that even if there is an abundant power supply generated by the power plants, still if some electric cooperatives are not contracted with those power plants, power outages for areas covered by these specific electric coops will still be a problem.
As of September 29, MPMC cited the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) data on the island’s grid power situation outlook that in first quarter of 2016, a total of 360 megawatts (MW) will be supplied to the grid by the 150 MW Unit two of the coal fired power plant of Therma South Inc., 100 MW Unit one of the coal-fired power plant of Saranggani Energy Corp., and 10 MW of Kirahon Solar power plant.
Diosma further said that Mindanao’s power supply projected deficiency for 2015 until 2016 will only be at some 120 to 150 MW.
"Usually, if the power defiency will not breach the “200 MW” line, it will not affect the power stability of the island based on historical records," he said.
NGCP data showed that peak demand for Mindanao will reach 1632 MW in November of this year.