MinDA assures there will be no system-wide blackout in Mindanao on election day

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/April 15) – Electricity demand in Mindanao is expected to rise to 2,233 megawatts on May 9, election day, but the island has more than enough supply to avoid systemic brownouts, an official from the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) said.
MinDA public relations officer Adrian Tamayo said on “Habi Wednesdays in Kape” that power plants in Mindanao are expected to generate about 3,000 MW while excess supply is expected at 767 MW on election day. .
He said the excess rules out the possibility of island-wide brownouts that could affect multiple areas, except for some isolated cases caused by force majeure such as tripping over trees on power lines and other causes that would not affect the large-scale distribution of electricity. .
“There is no threat of a brownout because we have excess supply. Situation away where there will be a drop in tension,” he said.
According to data released by MinDA last month, of Mindanao’s total system capacity of 2,751 MW, coal sources account for more than Mindanao’s generation mix at 1,490.5 MW or 54%; diesel 523.2 MW or 19%; hydropower 591.2 MW or 21%; geothermal energy 75 MW or 3%; solar 56.9 MW or 2%; and biomass 14.9 MW or 1%.
The majority of the island’s hydroelectric source comes from the state-run Agus-Pulangui Hydroelectric Complex comprising seven hydropower stations – Agus 1, Agus 2, Agus 4, Agus 5, Agus 6 and Agus 7 in the provinces of Lanao and Pulangui. 4 in Boukidnon. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)