MANILA, Philippines – Naghahanda ang Department of Energy (DOE) sa posibleng pagtaas ng demand sa kuryente at power supply problems dahil sa mas mainit na panahon dulot ng El Niño.
Ayon kay Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, maaari ring tumaas ang presyo ng kuryente dahil sa relasyon ng supply at demand sa Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).
“Demand-supply relationship always has an effect on the market, on WESM. So it might affect that. But I’ve talked to ERC to try to find ways to do something about the market so that there is no abuse on the part of the ones selling electricity in the market,” ani Garin.
Sinabi ni Garin na maaaring maapektuhan ang power generation capacity ng bansa kapag naging matindi ang init at tagtuyot. Hindi aniya makapag-ooperate nang buong kapasidad ang mga hydropower plant kapag natutuyo ang mga ilog, habang naaapektuhan din ang efficiency ng coal-fired power plants.
“So it will affect our supply, and DOE is preparing to cover for that based on the other options that we have. But the appeal is for the public to be aware of this so that we can already start having the mindset of energy savings,” dagdag niya.
Sinabi rin ni Garin na wala pang epekto sa kasalukuyang supply contracts ng Philippine oil companies ang hakbang ng China na bawasan o higpitan ang fuel exports.
Ayon sa DOE, humigit-kumulang 21% ng LPG, 5% ng gas at 25% ng diesel supply ng Pilipinas ay mula sa China.
“Basically, China is stockpiling because they released so much of their reserves previously. We have, in fact, checked with all our oil companies. So wala pong impact on our oil companies as of this moment. So their orders, ‘yuong natapos na or their ongoing long-term contracts are still being honored by all traders, even if it comes from China,” ani Garin.
Gayunman, sinabi niyang mananatiling mataas ang presyo ng fuel sa mga susunod na buwan at hindi agad babalik sa antas bago ang mga kaguluhan sa pandaigdigang merkado.
“That’s the cost of being dependent on imported fuel, and that’s also the cost of not having our own,” ani Garin.
Samantala, inaasahang isasagawa sa huling bahagi ng Nobyembre o unang bahagi ng Disyembre ang bidding para sa Semirara coal.
“The Semirara is scheduled to be bidded out this year, end of November or early December. On coal during El Niño, coal will still be there whether the contract expires or not. There’s still production, and the current contract is up to 2027,” pahayag niya.
Gayunman, sinabi ni Garin na hindi sapat ang Semirara para magkaroon ng malaking epekto sa kabuuang coal supply ng bansa dahil nasa 95% ng Philippine coal ay inaangkat. RNT/MDS
