State-owned National Power Corp. assured that there would be no 10-month blackout in Oriental Mindoro amid fears raised by residents in the area.
In a statement, Napocor said it would wait for the Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative Inc.’s new power provider to finish the setup of its six-megawatt generating sets before the shutdown of its 69-kV Calapan-Puerto Galera transmission line to give way for its rehabilitation.
“Napocor, along with its contractor, is currently doing rehabilitation works for the 41 km Calapan to Puerto Galera transmission line in Oriental Mindoro to improve its reliability and efficiency. In order to complete the works, we have to shut down the transmission line,” Maximo delos Reyes, Napocor’s chief for Mindoro-Romblon Operations Division, said.
Delos Reyes said that before undertaking the shutdown for the rehabilitation project, it was agreed as early as March that Ormeco will ask its power provider, the Mindoro Grid Corp., to transfer 6-MW capacity to Puerto Galera to secure enough power supply for its customers.
Ormeco asked Mindoro Grid to execute the transfer immediately. However, some unforeseen circumstances delayed the transfer.
“To ease the situation and allay the fears of the local residents and tourists on the rumored 10-month blackout, Napocor decided to wait until MGC complies and receives the necessary permit it needs. We hope MGC and the local government unit of Puerto Galera can expedite the process so we can proceed with our rehab and be able to return the transmission line in service as soon as possible” Delos Reyes, said.
The official said ‘10 months’ refers to the duration of the entire rehabilitation works and not the schedule for shutdown.
Oriental Mindoro is one of the 14 “first wave areas to embark on privatization by virtue of DOE Circular No. 2004-01-001 which sets the rules for private sector participation in existing Napocor power plants in missionary areas.
Based on the circular, electric cooperatives may conduct a competitive selection process or CSP to secure a new power provider that will take over the generation function of Napocor.
Since Ormeco’s successful conduct of CSP or bidding for its full power supply requirement, Napocor focused on building and upgrading the island province’s transmission and substation systems.