Power restored in quake-hit areas

Power has been restored in areas hit by a magnitude 6.5 quake in Eastern Visayas and Bohol, the Department of Energy (DOE) said yesterday.

The DOE said Bohol, Leyte and Samar are now receiving 330 megawatts, which can meet the projected peak demand of 210 MW for Leyte and Samar and 81 MW for Bohol.

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines said the newly transferred 150-megavolt ampere transformer 2 at the Ormoc substation was energized at around 9:40 p.m. on Thursday. This means that another 135 MW can be delivered to Bohol, Leyte and Samar.

In a text message, DOE Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said power generated by the geothermal plants of the Energy Development Corp. in Cebu, Negros and Panay as well as those coming from Luzon pass through the Ormoc substation.

“Only the Tongonan geothermal plant and the embedded plants do not go through the Ormoc substation,” Fuentebella said.

The Tongonan plant has been supplying 40 MW to the Visayas grid while around 20 MW come from various embedded generation sources.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi commended DOE and industry participants for restoring power in quake-hit areas four days ahead of the July 31 deadline.

“The task to build a stronger and more resilient energy system lies ahead. Our hosting of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue in Bohol next week will help us learn more and do more,” said Cusi.