Energy officials mull transfer of power barges from Visayas to Mindanao

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and the Department of Energy are considering deploying power barges to Mindanao to ease the acute power shortage there.   "We are working with the DOE to see what are the mitigating factors. Kino-consider nila ilipat ang power barges  galing sa Visayas papunta sa Mindanao (We are working with the DOE to see the mitigating factors. We are considering moving the power barges from the Visayas to Mindanao)," NGCP spokesperson Atty. Cynthia Alabanza said in an interview on dzBB radio.   Presently, Alabanza said there is "zero reserve" of power in Mindanao, a situation that forced energy authorities to impose brownouts at certain times of the day.   The current NGCP power outlook computes peak demand in Mindanao at 1,225 megawatt but system capacity is only 1,190 megawatts.    But a separate report on dzBB quoted National Power Corp. spokesman Dennis Gana as saying there is enough reserve power for Mindanao.   Alabanza the alternative would be to build new power plants.   She also explained that the NGCP is leaving it to power distribution utilities to curtail power supply.   "Hindi kami magka-cut off sa kanila (pero) step in kami kung 'di sumunod ang distribution utilities (We do not cut off power but we do step in if the distribution utilities do not follow the agreement)," she said. — ELR, GMA News