Contrary to past expectations, Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras on Monday said that Luzon will begin experiencing energy shortages as early as next year.
“The truth is next year we will already have a shortage. We will be short by our estimates, by at least 300 megawatts (MW) next year,” Almendras said at the Senate hearing on the 2011 Department of Energy (DOE) budget.
He said 300 MW is still within the allowable energy shortage but some power players have warned that the energy shortage may actually be 100 to 200 MW more.
“That is true if the predicted La Niña [weather phenomenon] will not bring in the water that the hydros will need,” the energy chief said.
The Energy Department expects a peak demand of 7,900 MW for next year, Almendras said, noting that in the summer of 2010 the energy demand peaked at 7,600 MW.
To address the problem, Almendras said the department is looking at privatizing some government-owned power plants so that the new owners can restore the facilities’ original installed capacity.
“It is the shortest, fastest solution to all those companies that have already bought the power plants from us to rehabilitate as fast as they can,” he said.
Almendras also said the Energy Department plans to draw power from Visayas to Luzon using the new coal-fired plants in Cebu and Panay.
The department also plans to issue an order enabling the DOE to harness undispatched hydro power and those from the diesel barges in Mindanao to boost the supply for Luzon.
By the end of 2011, the department aims to close a generation project in Mindanao to address the energy requirements of 2015 and 2016, Almendras said.
A P1.37-billion budget was allotted for the Energy Department next year. — JE/VS, GMANews.TV
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
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September –
5 Sept – Intl Day of Charity
7 Sept – Intl Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies
8 Sept – International Literacy Day
12 Sept – United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation
15 Sept – International Day of Democracy
16 Sept – International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
17 Sept – World Patient Safety Day
18 Sept – International Equal Pay Day
21 Sept – International Day of Peace
26 Sept – International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
27 Sept – World Tourism Day
28 Sept – International Day for Universal Access to Information
29 Sept – International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
30 Sept – World Maritime Day
Monthly Observances:
Health, Safety and Sanitation Month
National Clean-up Month
Civil Service Month
National Peace Consciousness Month
Social Security Month
Rule of Law Month
National Teachers’ Month (Sept 5-Oct 4)
Weekly Observances:
Sept 17 – 23:
World Clean and Green Week
Week 2: Education Week
Week 4: Medicine Week
Last Week: National Family Week
Daily Observances:
Third Saturday:
International Coastal Clean-up Day
Third Monday: World Health Day
Last Friday: National Maritime Day
Sept 8: National Literacy Day
Sept 15: Philippine Medicine Day
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