DOE assures Luzon of stable power supply

BAGUIO CITY  – The Department of Energy last week assured power consumers in Luzon of stable power supply, as it pegged the region’s power reserve at more than 900 megawatts (MW).

Efren Balaoing, DOE-Luzon field office director, said occasional rains in Baguio and Benguet and the coming rainy season would rejuvenate Cordillera watersheds.

Balaoing bared these during a DOE-led forum on multi-sectoral advocacy campaign on downstream oil industry here.

He said the Cordillera serves as watershed cradle of northern Luzon. 

It brings water to the lowlands and boosts the power-generating capacity of the Ambuklao and Binga Dams, both in Benguet.

 “Ambuklao generates 105 MW while Binga produces 125 MW,” he said.

The DOE official remained optimistic with rich potential of the Cordilleras to produce geothermal and hydroelectric power.

He said there are six pending applications for construction of geothermal plants in the region, that if approved would generate 230 MW.

There are around 22 applications for hydropower plants that can bring in more than 700 MW of power supply.

“If these power generation development contracts push through, (they) would boost the energy supply here in the Cordilleras and the rest of Luzon,” Balaoing said.