BOAC, Marinduque – The National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) is urging the public to help encourage private sector to take over the power generation in Marinduque.
The President of NAPOCOR , Ma. Gladys Sta. Rita herself made the call, during the Marinduque Electric Cooperative’s (MARELCO) 35th Annual General Membership Assembly.
With the employment of renewable energies and the participation of private sector in the power generation, Sta. Rita said cost of electricity in the province may even go down.
Marinduque is a missionary area – unconnected to the main power grid and unserviced by regular power distributors or any qualified third party utility.
Napocor’s Small Power Utilities Group is providing power, at least 9.4 MegaWatts (MW) to the province’s businesses and its 47,491 households.
The province has been aggressive in improving assets–from convention centers to sport centers – to accommodate international, national and regional events.
Early this year, Marinduque played host to the Mimaropa Regional Athletic Association (MIMAROPARAA), the Regional Tourism meeting, the Caving Congress and the Cooperative Congress.
As Marinduque opens its doors to more conventions and weary visitors in search for pristine nature , the demand for power in the province may likewise increase.
In the meantime, Sta. Rita said NAPOCOR is determined to improve services in Marinduque. NAPOCOR will buy brand new medium speed generating sets with a capactiy of 5MW as well as a 500,000 liter fuel oil storage tank to augment its existing 300,000 liter fuel tank. The corporation will likewise improve the 49 km Boac to Torrijos 69 Kilovolts transmission system to ensure system reliability.
Also in the plan was the purchase of spare parts for Boac’s 1,224-kilowatt Diesel Plant and the construction of a mooring facility in Banalacan Port.
Sta. Rita said electricity in the islets of Maniwaya, Mongpong and Polo, all in Sta. Cruz, will be extended from the current 6 hours to 8 hours.
NAPOCOR is running mini-grids in each islet. By November, Power Barge 120 will be dry-docking at the Banalacan Port as part of its maintenance. The Power Barge 120, together with the Boac and Torrijos Diesel Power Plants, supply electricity in the whole Marinduque.
But consumers need not to worry, Sta. Rita said, as NAPOCOR will use 3.5 MW generation sets to ensure continuous and sufficient power while Power Barge 120 is undergoing maintenance.
Source and Courtesy: Mayda N. Lagran (LP/MNL/PIA4B/Marinduque)
