From Rappler - Power shortage in Mindanao Feb 4, 2013
Power shortage in Mindanao is seen as a restraint to the growth of Mindanao despite developments in other areas: like growth in tourist arrivals, peace agreement being forged; regional cooperation and positive outlook for the country's economic growth.
Rotating brown outs for as long as 10 hours daily cost Mindanao progress a lot. 50% of the load of Mindanao is dependent on hydro (Agus I ) but which has been derated at 30% capacity. The coal power plant of STEAG (which provides 20% of the base load) just underwent maintenance. Power shortage/undergeneration stands at 200 to 400 mW and will persist for the next 2 years. PV projects ccould address the problem in under one year.
Businessmen and other various groups have been clamoring for solutions. However, much of this will lie on power coops buying diesel gensets which will make power more expensive.
Others include:
l. Connecting Mindanao and Visayas power grid
2. More power gen capacity construction (conventional)
3. Renewable projects (as with the very successful solar project of Cepalco 1 mW solar
project at CDO
4. Rehab of Agus I (tree planting project, desilting etc)
The use of the $500 million CTF (Clean Technology Fund) for the e trikes (more politically correct/palatable project) could have been put to better use with renewables in Mindanao.
That could have been put to better use because the Cepalco project cost $5 million and was able to generate l.6 million kwh. (ROI of 20 years) And with private counterpart, that could very well finance 200 mW of PV generating capacity.
Are you in favor of e trikes?
Is buying gensets by electric coops the right solution?
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