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DOE: Power situation back to normal after Mindanao quake

By Joann Villanueva

October 17, 2019, 5:49 pm

MANILA -- The Department of Energy (DOE) on Thursday said power situation in Mindanao is now back to normal after the 6.3 magnitude earthquake that hit the area of Tulunan, North Cotabato around 7:37 p.m. Wednesday.
 
DOE officials had an emergency meeting with members of the Task Force on Energy Resiliency (TFER) around 8:30 a.m. Thursday to be updated on the situation.
 
In an advisory, DOE said the National Electrification Administration (NEA) “continues to coordinate with the concerned Distribution Utilities/Electric Cooperatives for the status of their facilities”.
 
“The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines has mobilized its line personnel to conduct line assessments and restorations if needed,” it added.
 
Unit 2 of the Mindanao Geothermal Power Plant (MGPP) has been restored around 3:13 a.m. after it tripped, along with Unit 1, at around 7:37 p.m. Wednesday, following the quake.
 
The advisory added, “the power transmission backbone in Mindanao remains intact”.
 
“As of 11:40 p.m.last night, there have been no reports of damaged transmission facilities or high voltage equipment in South and North Cotabato,” it said.
 
In terms of power distribution, the advisory said the operation of six electric cooperatives that experienced interruption Wednesday night is now back to normal.
 
These electric cooperatives are the Davao Oriental Electric Cooperative, Inc. (DORECO), the Davao del Sur Electric Cooperative, Inc. (DASURECO), the Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative Inc. (DANECO), the Cotabato Electric Cooperative (COTELCO), the South Cotabato 1 Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SOCOTECO 1), and the South Cotabato 2 Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SOCOTECO 2).
 
The Cotabato Electric Cooperative Inc.-PPALMA (COTELCO-PPALMA) did not experience power interruption after the tremor.
 
DOE urged the public “to be vigilant in reporting downed/toppled distribution and transmission poles to your respective electric cooperatives”.
 
For the oil sector, the advisory said both the upstream and downstream oil facilities did not suffer damage.
 
“The DOE and the entire energy family will continue to update the public on developments on this matter,” it added. (PNA)
 

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