Northern Luzon power plants’ upgrading on

By Freddie G, Lazaro

CANDON CITY, Ilocos Sur— A high ranking official of the Department of Energy announced the ongoing upgrading of power plants in Northern Luzon to improve their services in bringing sufficient power supply for trade and economic activities in their areas of coverage.

DOE Director for Northern Luzon Efren Balaoing said the upgrading of power plants in this region are being done while forging of contracts with private investors will be pursued by the national government to develop the power generation capabilities of existing wind and mini-hydro power projects.

He cited the Binga and Ambuklao dams in Benguet province, Magat dam in Ramon, Isabela and the Pantabangan dam in Nueva Ecija as among those subject to upgrading of its facilities to bring out more power to boost the efficient economic activities in the Northern Luzon areas.

Meanwhile, he said the energy department is also working on the possible contracts with private companies who are interested in harnessing the potentials of Northern Luzon on oil.

“We have many interested private companies who wanted to invest on this project,” he told.

He said the province of Cagayan in Region 2 has been included on the list of prospective targets for oil development project by private investors.

This project, he said, involves long-term development depending on the work program of private companies.

He added the oil development project in the country will be realized in consonant with the policy of President Benigno S. Aquino III’s public-private partnerships.

“If this oil development project in Northern Luzon will realize, this will help decrease the price on petroleum products in the country,” he said.

It is noted that the country nowadays is still dependent from the Middle East and other countries in terms of oil supplies in which this will require high expenses that pushes the prices of petroleum products become higher.