DMCI’s Palawan power deal may be cancelled

The rolling brownouts distressing Palawan island-grid in the past three weeks have been prompting government to take drastic action against the anointed private power provider in the area.

Relevant energy agencies were scheduled to meet Monday (July 6) to decide on the fate of DMCI Power Corporation as to its deal to supply the electricity requirements of Palawan.

State-run National Power Corporation, it was noted, was being engaged by the Palawan Electric Cooperative (PALECO) to finally step in and take on the cudgels of servicing them after DMCI Power failed on its commitment to reliably and sufficiently meet their power needs.

In an interview, NPC President Gladys Cruz-Sta Rita has indicated that they have been asked to help plug the void in Palawan’s electricity supply as the rolling power outages in the area have already been taking toll on their socio-economic well-being.

But the NPC chief executive has indicated that the Consunji-led DMCI Power would still be given the chance (during the July 6 meeting) to present a “feasible option and solution” that it can bring to end the island-grid’s dilemma on power interruptions.

Nevertheless, Sta Rita indicated that the power firm still earmarked some budget just in case the Department of Energy (DOE) will require it to temporarily take on supplying Palawan’s electricity requirements.

DMCI Power, it was emphasized, purportedly committed to supply Palawan’s capacity requirements at full 22 megawatts. But its plan of putting up a coal plant in the area has been encountering implementation snags. (MMV)