Brownout threat ebbs as plants get Malampaya gas

The resumption of natural gas feeds to three Luzon power plants has significantly reduced the likelihood of fresh brownouts this week. The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) said the Malampaya deepwater gas-to-power facility resumed supplying to three Batangas power plants on Saturday after completing preventive maintenance work. The Malampaya shutdown starting February 12 led to a shutdown of the 1,200-megawatt (MW) Ilijan. The 500-MW San Lorenzo and 1,000-MW Sta. Rita plants, meanwhile, were forced to run on more expensive liquid condensate. The NGCP said the Sta. Rita and San Lorenzo plants have been generating 753 MW and 500 MW, respectively, since Malampaya went online. Jesusito H. Sulit, senior adviser to the NGCP president, said the Ilijan plant was providing 300 MW. Its capacity is expected to climb to 600 MW today, hitting the full 1,200 MW by Wednesday. Reserves in Luzon are expected to be at 400 MW today, 600 MW by Tuesday, and 900 MW by Wednesday. Asked if power interruptions could occur this week, Sulit said it was unlikely. " Not anymore, it seems we are okay. Without Malampaya we were coping; now it has augmented supply so we are okay," Sulit said in Filipino. Outages, however, may still occur if a plant whose capacity exceeds the day’s reserves trips. — BusinessWorld