Energy firms race to restore power in typhoon-hit areas
BY LENIE LECTURA – DECEMBER 20, 2021
from Business Mirror
Power industry stakeholders said Sunday power could be fully restored in areas struck by Typhoon Odette (international code name Rai) before Christmas.
During a briefing, Department of Energy’s (DOE) Electric Power Industry Management Bureau Director Mario Marasigan said the agencies are still conducting field assessments on the impact of the typhoon on the operations and facilities of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), National Power Corp. (NPC) and the National Electrification Administration (NEA).
“We hope full restoration will be at hand by Christmas,” he said. “We are requesting particularly NEA, NPC to finalize timelines for the full restoration. As far as NGCP, they have already presented their timelines. We are still in the process of consolidating all these things, but our primary target is to complete everything before Christmas.”
Included in the priority list are the storage areas for vaccines, hospitals, and health centers.
The DOE official could not yet provide an estimate as to the cost of damage in affected areas, pending completion of ongoing assessment.
“According to NEA, 4 ECs [electric cooperatives] have submitted their estimates. Full physical access to the affected areas is still difficult that is why the assessment could not be completed yet,” said Marasigan.
Initial figures point to 600,000 affected households. NEA officials, however, could not yet give a final number.
The NGCP, meanwhile, said restoration works in Odette-affected areas have started.
As of Sunday, 22 138kV lines that are unavailable affecting parts of Cebu, entire province of Bohol, and parts of Leyte and Samar Islands. Seven 230kV lines are also unavailable.
NGCP has mobilized its line crews and is currently conducting ground patrols to inspect and assess the impact of the typhoon on its operations and facilities, and simultaneous restoration activities are being conducted in the areas already accessible.
Meanwhile, Aboitiz Power Corp. has energized its oil-fired power plants to restore power and aid in the recovery of the affected communities in Cebu.
AboitizPower said it deployed a team to energize its oil-fired power plant, operated and managed by its subsidiary, Cebu Private Power Corp. (CPPC). CPPC is a power plant located in the heart of Cebu City, embedded within the Visayan Electric Co. (VECO) franchise area, and has the unique capability to deliver power directly to VECO circuits and its customers.
Four CPPC power generator units started delivering 18 megawatts (MW) of power supply directly to VECO on Sunday morning, providing much needed electricity starting with priority areas like hospitals, government facilities, and the Metro Cebu Water District pumping stations. CPPC expects more of its power generator units to operate in the next 24 hours, aiming to double power output to 36 MW.
The DOE earlier imposed a price freeze on household LPG and kerosene in areas under a state of calamity.
For 15 days, prices shall remain at the prevailing levels in Bohol Province, Butuan City, Cebu Province, Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte, and Cebu City.
