Val Kent

FROM LEYECO III ON ELECTRICITY: RECENT AND REAL POWER SITUATION: In a meeting of Coops today, NGCP reveals 'real' power situation in quake-hit region. The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has divulged the 'real picture' of the extent of damage of the transmission facilities in a meeting with the Region 8 electric cooperatives in Tacloban City today, July 11. Engr. Brando Fajardo, NGCP chief Leyte-Samar Grid, confirmed that three of its four 138 kV substation transformers in Ormoc were all unserviceable after sustaining damages due to the 6.5 earthquake. Fajardo added that another 69kV transformer was also damaged. This means that even if power from Cebu becomes available through the newly constructed by-pass line, electricity can not be delivered yet to the consumers as of the time being. Power from Cebu or from any power plants must pass through these substations before they can be safely used by the consumers. Engr. Bong Bardoquillo, NGCP head of Network Operations, explained that two substations are nearly serviceable not until the next earthquake which occured on Monday, July 10, leaving the facilities totally inoperable. Right now, only one 138kV transformer is operational which can deliver up to 50MW supply, far deficient from the 210MW present power requirement of Region 8. The said pronouncement stirred and dismayed the electric cooperatives after having believed that generation aspect is the root cause of the present setback. ECs believed to have been 'misinformed' of the real power situation including the member-consumers and stakeholders. GM Allan Laniba of Leyeco III said that concrete information must have been relayed to Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi during his visit in Tacloban City for appropriate actions and recommendations to the President. Laniba stressed the need for the intervention of the government these times because it already concerns national interest due to economic derailment. When asked about the timeline of the total restoration of its transformers, NGCP kept mum and leave the issue to its operations and maintenance team. Frecor 8 urged NGCP to cause the immediate transfer of one unit 150MVA transformer from Compostela, Cebu and another one unit 150MVA from Dipolog City to replace its damaged units in Ormoc. NGCP, on its latest update as of 1pm today, said testing is still ongoing at the Ormoc substation.

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