(CNN Philippines) – The Energy Department on Thursday (April 16) pointed to technical problem on a former government facility as the culprit behind the massive Easter blackout in Mindanao last April 5.
But while the technical issue was supposed to be an isolated problem that hit a facility owned by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), it spread out to the entire island, engulfing Mindanao in darkness for at least seven hours.
Based on their investigation, the problem spread out because the grid’s “auto-protection device” which was supposed to contain such technical problems, reacted late.
The NGCP has been ordered to re-calibrate the device to ensure quick response whenever there are technical difficulties in the system.
The Energy Department, meanwhile, also asked the same investigating team to look into the delayed operation of the Therma South Power Plant owned by Aboitiz Power.
The company claimed that one unit of the power plant was affected by last week’s blackout – resulting in a 10-month delay in its operations.
The problem does not stop there though, as about seven electric cooperatives in Mindanao are currently experiencing rotational blackouts lasting from 30 minutes up to four hours.
Blackouts usually occur from March to May as most hydro-electric power plants in Mindanao are drying up as summer peaks.
Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla said he expects these power cuts to persist until the end of summer.
Luzon safe ‘for now’
It’s a different case in Luzon, however, as the region expects a slim chance of rotational blackouts happening in the next four weeks, at least.
Petilla said Luzon has enough back-up power to tap at this point especially since the Malampaya facility is back online.
Energy officials, however, are still on alert especially in May, when demand is expected to peak to 9,100 megawatts.
