To minimize the risk of potential power outages, the Department of Energy (DOE) urged consumers in Luzon to practice energy conservation as two natural gas power generation facilities are set to shut down from March 29 to March 31.
In a statement on Friday, March 28, the DOE reported that the liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities South Premiere Power Corp. (SPPC) and Excellent Energy Resources Inc. (EERI), which are owned by energy giants Meralco PowerGen, San Miguel Global Power, and Aboitiz Power, will undergo a shutdown over the weekend.
“The LNG terminal is expected to resume sending out gas, enabling EERI to synchronize to the grid by 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, while SPPC Block 1, which requires a longer start-up period, is expected to synchronize by 9 p.m. on the same day,” the DOE explained.
Additionally, it assured that both EERI and SPPC would have an additional 50 megawatts (MW) capacity by Monday, March 31, bringing the overall capacity of the plants from 1,300 MW to 1,350 MW.
The temporary shutdown was scheduled to manage mechanical activities at Linsfeed Field Corp.’s LNG terminal, which is considered to be a crucial move to finish its first LNG storage tank by the end of April 2025.
“The shutdown of these plants has been strategically planned in coordination with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to coincide with lower system demand, minimizing potential supply disruptions,” the DOE said.
Moreover, no yellow or red alerts are projected in the duration of the shutdown, according to the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP). However, this could potentially increase spot market prices in the near future.
Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) further assured that supply reserves over the weekend would be enough during the shutdown activity, and that an interruptible load program (ILP) is in place in case of emergency.
Despite the northeast monsoon or amihan season coming to a close, the DOE is urging the public to practice energy conservation during the period, such as maximizing natural lighting and ventilation when possible, minimizing the use of lights and non-essential appliances, as well as moderately using air conditioners to lessen the demand on Luzon’s power grid.