Metro Manila fuel supply seen sufficient for lockdown, Energy dep’t says

METRO MANILA has sufficient fuel in the duration of the 30-day “lockdown,” which the government formally calls a community quarantine, the Department of Energy (DoE) announced.

The DoE said Sunday that the National Capital Region (NCR) will have a “continuous and sufficient” supply of fuel for the duration of the lockdown between March 15 and April 14, amid the ongoing government effort to stem the spread of COVID-19.

It estimated the NCR inventory at 2.7 billion liters of crude and oil products as of Feb. 29, or 45 days worth of expected consumption, which is above the oil industry’s minimum inventory requirement.

“The entire energy family is working 24/7 to make sure that energy services remain unimpeded,” Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said in an advisory.

The department has asked oil companies to file status reports on stock levels at their depots supplying the region, and report any issues with distribution or instances of hoarding.

The DoE also required generating companies, distribution utilities, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP), and the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines, Inc. (IEMOP) to submit Business Continuity Plans (BCP) to ensure the availability of power.

“Electric power services must remain uninterrupted. We are working closely with the members of the power sector for their respective work plans and strategies to ensure the availability of power supply, particularly in vital installations such as hospitals,” Mr. Cusi said in a separate statement.

The department noted that the market operator had submitted its BCP, while the transmission grid has enforced contingency measures to maintain uninterrupted power transmission services. —