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By Euan Paulo C. Añonuevo, Reporter
Small power utilities group (SPUG), which
provides electricity to off-grid areas in the country, would need a
sizeable capital in the short to medium terms to increase output and
meet rising demand for power from such areas.
Under the Missionary Electrification Plan (MEP)
of the National Power Corp. (Napocor), SPUG would need P26.63
billion for capital expenses from 2008 to 2010.
The bulk of the capex amounting to P17.85
billion will be used to put up power generation projects that will
address the projected demand for 319 megawatts in the SPUG-covered
areas.
Meanwhile, P7.55 billion will be spent for
transmission line projects in these areas.
Under the MEP, a total of 830.06 kilometers of
69 kV and 13.2 kV transmission lines will be needed in Luzon, 48
kilometers in Visayas, and 217 kilometers in Mindanao.
About 85 MVA/69 kV substation facilities must be
constructed in Luzon, 25 MVA in Visayas and 35 MVA in Mindanao.
The government is keen on privatizing
state-owned SPUG areas to sustain the turnaround in Napocor’s
finances due to the reduction of subsidies to the areas.
SPUG supplies power to 74 remote off-grid
islands at a yearly cost of $48.9 million. But only around 60
percent of that cost is covered by a universal service charge
assessed to on-grid customers. The remainder of around $18.6 million
is passed on to the national government as accumulated losses.
A total of 61 of these areas are under
Napocor’s control and are lined up for privatization.
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