PHINMA Energy to hike power supply in quake-hit Visayas
Manila Bulletin
By Myrna Velasco
July 12, 2017
PHINMA Energy Corporation will be augmenting power supply in the
earthquake-stricken domains in the Visayas grid by close to 40 megawatts
from its power barges that could be deployed into the area.
This will be in response to the request of the Department of Energy
(DoE) for the company to help in the immediate provision of power supply
in Leyte, Samar and Bohol that have been technically “plunged into the
dark” after last week’s hit of natural disaster.
According to PHINMA Energy President Fancisco L. Viray, the company
could deploy their power barges of four generating units with 5.5MW
capacity each; and another barge of three generating units with the same
5.5MW capacity each.
Altogether, that could shore up power supply in the grid by 38.5MW –
and could already be a big boost to an area that is already experiencing
the pain and distress of blackouts.
Nevertheless, Viray noted there are logistical concerns that they
would need to hurdle before they can move the barges to the site where
power supply is needed.
He admitted “the need (for supply from the barges) could be overtaken
by the repair of the geothermal facilities in Leyte and the
transmission lines.”
Viray qualified that “it takes time to construct infrastructure for
the mooring site, transmission line and permitting requirements.”
The energy department indicated that it is pushing for fast-track
rehabilitation of the damaged power facilities – primarily the
geothermal generating facilities of Energy Development Corporation (EDC)
and the transmission facilities under the charge of the National Grid
Corporation of the Philippines.
“The DoE has a 10-day timeline to restore power supply,” has been the
marching order set out by Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi, while
emphasizing that “the people are working double time to repair necessary
energy facilities.”