InterAksyon.com means BUSINESS
MANILA, Philippines - Regulators have approved a supply deal between a Zamboanga electric cooperative and Aboitiz group's power-barge unit to improve Mindanao's access to electricity.
In a decision, the Energy Regulatory Commission gave the green light to an 18-megawatt power supply deal between Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Zamcelco) and Therma Marine Inc. (TMI), which owns two 100-megawatt power barges in Mindanao.
The contract approval brings to 16 the number of supply deals between Mindanao utilities and TMI.
These contracts cover 152 megawatts of the combined capacity of the power barges.
"The ERC's timely action on the applications of the Mindanao utilities to augment their power requirements with power coming from the TMI power barges facilitated the utilization of the generation capacity of these barges for the Mindanao consumers," Francis Saturnino Juan, ERC executive director, said.
The regulator is still hearing three similar petitions lodged by the Misamis Occidental I Electric Cooperative Inc., Bukidnon Second Electric Cooperative Inc. and Cotabato Electric Cooperative Inc.
Mindanao has been suffering from power supply disruptions because of insufficient generating capacity and the aversion of electric cooperatives to contract expensive supply from generating companies.
More than half of Mindanao's power supply comes from hydroelectric facilities, which produce relatively cheaper electricity than conventional power plants.
As a stop-gap measure, the Department of Energy earlier directed utilities to contract available generating capacity of power plant operators like TMI.
InterAksyon.com means BUSINESS
BUSINESS NEWS
