DoE: Nuclear power to play role in achieving dev’t goals

NUCLEAR ENERGY will play a “pivotal” role in augmenting the country’s power supply and will help in accomplishing the administration’s long-term vision of lifting most Filipinos into the middle class by 2040, an Energy department official said on Monday. “The Philippines has always viewed nuclear energy as a long-term option for power generation that will…

DOE denies Luzon grid on yellow power alert until June

The Department of Energy DOE on Monday refuted a media report that the Luzon island has been placed on the second highest alert until June due to insufficient power reserves. A newspaper citing the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines NGCP had reported that a yellow alert was raised in Luzon after several power plants…

Mindanao electric cooperatives say their views on WESM disregarded

Electric cooperatives in Mindanao are opposing the terms under the planned wholesale electricity spot market (WESM), claiming that their recommendations during the Department of Energy’s (DoE) consultations were not considered. In a news conference here Friday, the Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc. (AMRECO) said one of their main proposals is establishing an “independent”…

DoE considering Sulu as site for nuclear plant

THE Department of Energy (DoE) is studying the possibility of putting up a modular nuclear facility in Sulu ahead of a decision on whether the mothballed Bataan nuclear power plant will be rehabilitated or converted into a different power generation project. “We are looking at nuclear as a source of power … for island provinces,”…

DoE approves grid impact study for 13 projects

THE Department of Energy (DoE) has cleared 13 power developers to have their projects assessed for their impact on the electricity grid, the country’s power transmission backbone. If the projects move to full completion and commercial operation, they will add at least 2,000 megawatts (MW) to the country’s installed capacity. Of the projects cleared from…

DOE, China state firm enter collaboration on power ventures

The Department of Energy (DOE) is signing a deal with China’s National Energy Administration (NEA) this week to firm up collaboration in strengthening the Philippine power industry, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said. The energy chief will meet with NEA’s deputy minister and the minister of trade from China this week. The meeting was scheduled for…

DoE lists 209.8 MW worth of hydro projects in pipeline

THE Department of Energy (DoE) said a total of 209.8 megawatts (MW) in new capacity from hydropower sources will become available between this year and 2020. The bulk of the projects, at 134.2 MW, will be coming from six projects in Mindanao. Luzon will be delivering a total of 62.5 MW from three projects, while…

DoE wants fast track for P3.5-B power projects

THE Department of Energy (DoE) is proposing a threshold of P3.5 billion for power generation ventures to be declared as projects of national significance, a status which frees them from tedious permitting and regulatory hurdles. However, the project cost will only be secondary to the department’s goals as laid down in the Philippine Energy Plan…

Energy department advises freeze on power supply talks for big users

THE Department of Energy (DoE) has told big power users to put on hold negotiations to source supply from retail electricity suppliers ahead of a common stand from government agencies after the Supreme Court blocked regulations that called for retail competition and open access (RCOA) in the power sector. “Freeze everything until the Supreme Court…

THE Department of Energy (DoE) is looking to issue a new circular that will ease the rules for 750-kilowatt “contestable” consumers who are mandated to contract their power supply with licensed retail electricity suppliers (RES) by June 26, 2017. “While we are doing voluntary for 1-megawatt (MW) [consumers], I’m preparing for June,” Energy Secretary Alfonso…

DoE considering LNG conversion for Malaya plant

BIDDING for the government-owned Malaya thermal power plant might go back to square one after the Department of Energy (DoE) said it may add a new condition: the conversion of the 650-megawatt (MW) facility into a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant. “We want to have available capacity, so what we said is part of the…

Surplus means rehab possible for Agus-Pulangi — DoE

The Department of Energy (DoE) said it is open to the idea of the Agus-Pulangi hydroelectric power complex in Mindanao to being rehabilitated before its eventual sale to the private sector. “We have more than enough [power supply] in Mindanao. Having more than enough it would be an opportune time to rehab,” Energy Secretary Alfonso G….