The Department of Energy (DOE) has directed power firms to submit a list or formally report the multibillion worth of power projects that will likely be delayed or shelved due to the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) implemented to combat the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The DOE has stipulated that the first unit of the 1,336 MW Dinginin coal-fired power facility will have to be moved, instead of commercially operating it by June this year, according to a report.
“Initial information at the start of the ECQ indicates potential delays with the Dinginin project,” the DOE said in a statement.
Transmission line upgrade or reinforcement by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is also part of the affected projects.
“The NGCP also informed the DOE that it unilaterally suspended its projects,” the energy department said.
“We asked our stakeholders, including the NGCP, to confirm which of their respective projects will be delayed, why they have suspended their operations and to provide a catch-up plan if they’re indeed delayed,” DOE said.
Earlier, the DOE had hinted at the likely delay of the P52-billion Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project (MVIP), which was initially targeted for completion by the end of the year.
The energy department said that parts of the project under NGCP “are on time” but there are other factors that could cause delay such as the process of securing right-of-way (ROW) clearing.
The DOE emphasized it has to assess which projects are being affected and how these can be addressed.