Cebu power plant fire to cause brownouts

NAGA, CEBU – Rotational brownouts are expected to take place in the Visayas region in the next six days following aq fire that hit a portion of the Korean Electric Power Corp.-Salcon Power Corp. (Kepco-SPC) power plant in this city. The brownouts will reportedly last 30 to 45 minutes.

The fire struck a portion of the power plant at 5:20 a.m. Saturday, fire investigators said. Firefighters were still at the fire scene at noon yesterday as the blaze hit a portion where coal and carbon that fuel the plant were stored.

No one was injured during the blaze.

Based on initial information, Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong said the blaze was caused by an electrical short circuit although the fire department said it was still investigating the incident.

An official from KEPCO-SPC said the power plant could be shut down in the next six days to undergo repair and rehabilitation following the blaze. This means rotational brownouts are expected in areas that depend on the Visayas grid for power.

KEPCO-SPC, however, stressed that it will do its best to finish the repair in less than six days to ensure that normal power supply is restored.

Metro Cebu, however, is spared from the rotational brownout because the Visayan Electric Company, which supplies power to Cebu City, and neighboring cities, does not source power from KEPCO-SPC.

Department of Energy Visayas Director Antonio Labios assured that there will be no power blackout, especially in the island of Negros, but just power interruptions. Labios said the rotational brownouts could occur on average 30 to 45 minutes.

Labios also announced that despite the dry spell and the rise in power consumption, there is not power shortage in the Visayas as of the moment.