As tropical storm Aghon exits the country, the Department of Energy (DOE) said it is coordinating power restoration efforts, specifically the repair of power lines.

In an interview with PTV on Tuesday, May 28, Energy Assistant Secretary Mario Marasigan clarified that the storm did not cause any malfunctions on the power plants themselves, but rather the lines that deliver electricity to facilities and substations.

According to Marasigan, about 2,500 megawatts (MW) of direct total capacity have been affected by the storm. 

“[The affected capacity] is a little big… Which is why we’re fixing the lines first,” he said.

He also reported that the Ilijan Power Plant in Batangas City has gone back online, and is expecting to return 1,200 MW from its floating storage unit. This was initially held back to avoid the outcomes of the natural disaster.

Additionally, DOE official said that the 455-MW San Buenaventura Power Plant, which had tripped on Monday, is now back in service. 

The units of Pagbilao Power Station in Quezon are also expected to recover from the storm. Pagbilao Unit 3 will go back online tomorrow, at 7 AM, which will be followed by Unit 1. 

However, Pagbilao Unit 2 will be back by Sunday, June 2. 

Marasigan explained the energy sector’s plans to meet the energy demand of consumers, stating that, “there will be new plants with commissioning date, along with assuring that the interconnection [efforts] are operational.”

“This year we’re expecting an additional 4,000 MW worth of capacity, as 50 percent will be taken from renewable energy, and the other 50 percent from conventional facilities. We shouldn’t have any yellow alerts by then.”