ENERGY Secretary Alfonso Cusi has ordered a team to check the country's largest power plant in Pangasinan after it went offline.
Unit 1 of the Sual power plant went offline at 10:15 a.m. on Monday due to a possible condenser tube leak but the power situation in Luzon is still manageable, the Department of Energy (DOE) said, quoting the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).
"We need to make Team Sual aware that we are checking on them and all the others,” Cusi said.
Aside from verifying reports, DOE wants to ensure the safety and reliability of the plant.
“Our goals are getting the correct reports and pushing them to a higher degree in doing their jobs,” Cusi said. “It's not just them giving the right account of what's going on. More importantly, it's the higher standard we are after.”
He said that in the end, audit teams must push and convince plant operators to procure quality materials to achieve a higher level in performing their functions.
“When we visit plants, we always show concern for the workers. We put pressure on the owners to provide the best resources for the workers to excel. Best equipment, facilities and fair benefits will result to better performance,” Cusi said.
Despite the shutdown of Sual Unit 1, NGCP assured the normal supply of electricity in Luzon.
“The grid is still normal (at this time),” NGCP said in a statement.
Based on the most recent update of NGCP, the Luzon grid will have a net reserve of 1,089 megawatts during the afternoon peak today.
"Sual Unit 2 is running at 647 megawatts and Malaya TPP Unit 2 will be utilized at minimum stable capacity of 130 megawatts to maintain normal system conditions."
According to Team Energy Sual, Sual Unit 1 is expected to return on line within 3 to 4 days. They will provide DOE periodic updates with regard to the plant conditions.
The Sual Power Station is the largest coal-fired power plant in the Philippines, generating and supplying 1,294 megawatts for the Luzon Grid. (SDR/VoxPop Philippines)