To sustain its growing power demand, Mindanao will require an additional 10,400 MW by 2040, according to the Department of Energy (DOE).
DOE Assistant Secretary Redentor Delola made this statement at the 2018 Mindanao Energy Investment Forum on October 11.
However, Mindanao has enough energy reserves to meet its power requirements between before 2040.
Delola said the Mindanao power grid has a total of 3.48 GW currently installed capacity from 20 grid connected power plants and 33 embedded power plants. 53 percent of the island’s power supply comes from coal-fired power plants, 43 percent comes from renewable energy, and 7 percent comes from oil-fired power plants.
He added that if the additional 764.9 MW of potential power projects in Mindanao will push through, the island will have a surplus power supply to as much as 1,400 MW.
“After that, Mindanao will really need additional capacity,” Delola told Sun Star.
DOE is eyeing potential power investors to install new capacities in Mindanao in order to solve the looming energy problem.
Between 2018 to 2025, Mindanao is expecting 1,332.43 MW of committed power projects to come into the region. An additional 1,937.28 MW of indicative power projects is expected to push through and be established before 2025.
“We also have various supporting measures in place which facilitate the implementation of energy projects such as Executive Order (EO) No. 30 and the Ease of Doing Business Law,” Felix William B. Fuentebella, DOE Undersecretary, said.
The EO 30 creates the Energy Investment Coordinating Council, which is responsible for streamlining regulatory procedures concerning energy projects.Meanwhile, the Ease of Doing Business Law will prescribe three, seven, or 20 days action on applications made by investors or businesses.
