Dolor orders IPPs to stabilize power supply in Oriental Mindoro
DOLOR (Jerry Alcayde)
CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro – Gov. Humerlito A. Dolor has given existing and new independent power providers until May 31 to make their plants fully operational to significantly reduce power interruptions in this province.
Dolor said that the operational infrastructure, from plants or electricity generators and connection to transmission lines, should be immediately completed to enable 105.5 megawatts in overall contracted capacity to be realized this year.
“Let’s make sure that everything is delivered this year to have a stable power to meet local demand,” Dolor told representatives of five IPPs that attended an emergency meeting initiated by the provincial government on Monday, May 18, at the provincial capitol in Calapan City.
“I know that some of you did not meet your obligations as specified in your respective contracts but this is not the time for blaming, we must move on for the benefit of the people of our province,” Dolor said, as he warned them that non-compliance of the deadline shall be considered as breach of contract that may result to cancellation and possible filing of cases in court.
Humphrey A. Dolor, general manager of the Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative, has identified the problem in generation, delay in the setting-up of plants, and high fuel costs as the three major factors that caused the power shortage.
Humphrey also cited the decrease in output of the two renewable energy suppliers, PHESI wind power in Puerto Galera that supplies 16 MW and the hydro power plant in San Teodoro that gives 15.5 MW, as contributory to the power crisis.
He said these factors, including the 75.31 MW peak demand which the province experienced last May 11 as against the dependable supply of only 56.5 MW or a 18.81 MW deficit, forced Ormeco to implement rotational brownouts in all towns in the province, including the premiere tourist town of Puerto Galera and Calapan City.
The Ormeco official said that four IPPs which could give an additional 37 MW are not yet operational.
Gov. Dolor instructed his legal officer to make the necessary representations before the Energy Regulatory Commission in the processing of the applications for power supply agreements of IPPs.
Humphrey appealed to member-consumers to be more prudent in using electricity and avoid excessive use of power during fiestas and similar celebrations.
The five IPPs which pledged to cooperate with the governor’s call were DMCI Corp., East Paramount Energy Corp., Ormin Power Inc., Power One Corp., and RMS Petroleum Tech and Waste Management Corp.