Negros Island is currently faced with an about 50 to 100 megawatts power shortage at night, which is being augmented with supply from neighboring islands, a Department of Energy (DOE) official said on Wednesday, March 20.
Jose Rey Maleza, DOE Energy Industry Management Division chief, was among those present at a Negros Electric Power Forum at L‘Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City convened by the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI).
The power industry stakeholders and business community at the forum passed a resolution for the creation of a Negros Island Power Development Coordinating Council (NIPDCC) to come up with recommendations for a Negros Island Power Development Roadmap, Frank Carbon, MBCCI chief executive officer, said.
He said the resolution for the creation of the NIPDCC will be submitted to the Negros Occidental Provincial Development Council on Friday for approval.
The forum was also held in preparation for the power summit to be convened by Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, Carbon added.
Maleza said the new 230 KV Cebu-Negros-Panay transmission line that is expected to be completed by March 31 is crucial to addressing the power needs of Negros and Panay.
There is an excess of more than 1,000 megawatts of power in Mindanao that will help address the needs of Negros and Panay, he said.
Negros needs power from other islands to meet its 50 to 100 megawatts shortage during peak hours at night, he said.
The Negros sub grid peak power demand was 456 MW as of January this year, he said.
Malleza said the creation of the NIPDC is good as it will serve as a coordinating body in the implementation of plans and programs with regards to energy
Carbon stressed the need for more imbedded or on island power generators producing 300 to 400 megawatts to ensure stable and reliable power supply in Negros.
Also present at the forum were Bacolod Councilors Jude Thaddeus Sayson and Kalaw Puentevella.*