Mindanao power grid gets 50MW back online from Therma Marine

After completing the repairs on one of its power barges, Therma Marine Inc. on Monday said the Mindanao grid is getting back 50 megawatts (MW) of electricity supply in time for the May 13 elections. A unit of Aboitiz Power Corporation, Therma Marine said the repairs on one of the generators of Mobile 1 in Maco, Compostela Valley which can now bring back 50 MW to the grid. The Maco power barge and another barge moored in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte produce a combined 200 MW of power for Mindanao. “The repair works were completed ahead of schedule and additional power has been made available to the 23 Mindanao electric cooperatives and distribution utilities starting over the weekend,” chief operating officer Jovy P. Batiquin said in an e-mailed statement. The Therma Marine official noted some major components of the generator had to be replaced. "All our generator units are running and we hope to do our share in providing power not only for the upcoming elections but throughout summer," Batiquin said. On March 21, Therma Marine announced that one of the two generators of Mobile 1 developed technical problems after being used in 24-hour operations and had to be indefinitely shut down for repairs. The Therma Marine barges were being used almost like a baseload power plant just to help ease the effects of the debilitating power Mindanao crisis, the company said. — Danessa Rivera/VS, GMA News