The power situation in Luzon will get critical starting next month when major dams dry up and some power plants undergo repair or maintenance check.
Compounding the bleak outlook is the shutdown of the entire Malampaya natural gas facility in northwest Palawan in mid-March to give way to the installation of a new production platform as part of its $1-billion expansion program.
The closure of the production field will stop the supply of natural gas from Malampaya, which fuels three major power plants in Batangas province with a combined capacity of 2,700 megawatts. The three Batangas power stations will shift to the more expensive liquid fuel during the maintenance shutdown of the Malampaya gas facility, resulting in higher electricity rates of over P1 per kilowatt-hour in the April and May billings of customers.
The power situation in Luzon will become more critical for the rest of the dry season as increased electricity demand from the use of air-conditioning units and electric fans outpaced energy supply.
The Luzon power grid does not have enough reserves to offset the scheduled shutdowns of plant operators. Electricity demand has been rising fast mainly because of the rapid economic expansion.
A number of planned power plants, meanwhile, have failed to join the Luzon electricity grid in time due to opposition from certain sectors and court injunctions. The delay in the construction of these plants, coupled with the inefficiency of a number of power stations due to old age, will ultimately endanger economic growth.
The country’s economic and energy planners, thus, must take a second look at the power outlook to assure the adequate delivery of supply amid the economic boom. The entry of more foreign investors, construction boom and increased tourist arrivals will exert further pressure on power supply.
Authorities, too, must be ready to draw up an effective energy conservation program to maximize the use of available energy resources and avoid wastage. Efficient energy management is what the Philippine needs.