MinDA thumbs down sale of Mindanao power facility

BY LENIE LECTURA – JUNE 7, 2021
from Business Mirror

THE Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) is opposing the privatization of the Agus-Pulangi Hydroelectric Complex (APHC), as the hydropower plants will ensure the stable supply of electricity in Mindanao.

“MinDA’s position is against the privatization of Agus-Pulangi Hydroelectric Complex, which is deemed best left in the hands of the government but defining its role in an era of market competition.

We need these assets to not just tame future supply volatilities but also continue fulfilling its obligation to serve especially the marginalized areas,” Mindanao Chairman Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said.

Based on the monitoring of Department of Energy (DOE), the peak demand in the Mindanao grid stood at 1,928 MW while capacity reached 2,780 MW. Piñol said that in order for the grid to maintain a reliable supply, his group is pushing for the development of more renewable energy sources and, at the same time, rejecting call to privatize APHC.

“The Mindanao Development Authority through the Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee (MPMC) assures the consumers and stakeholders of Mindanao of a stable and reliable power supply.

Mindanao’s energy is a crucial factor in the overall socio-economic development of the island making sure that supply is reliable and stable to support economic recovery from the impact of the pandemic and an expected rise in demand when industries return to pre-Covid operational levels,” added Piñol.

The MPMC, which is co-chaired by MinDA and the DOE, is composed of the Energy Regulation Commission, National Power Corp., National Electrification Administration, Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperatives, Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, Mindanao Power Electric Alliance, and the National Transmission Corp.

“While our power supply is considered to be stable, we continue to pursue measures and approaches to support expected rise in the demand for power while keeping energy rates cost-effective as the economy recovers from the pandemic, and industries reset operations to pre-Covid levels,” Piñol said.

The Agus Complex consists of six cascading power plants which uses the water from Lake Lanao in Marawi City, flowing through the Agus River and down to Maria Cristina Falls in Iligan City.

The complex should have 7 facilities but the third project, Agus III, has yet to be finished.

The Pulangi complex is a 255-MW hydropower facility with 3 generating units.