THE MINDANAO Development Authority (MinDA) feared losing investments if there is no new energy producer in Mindanao.
“The studies show that by 2027-2028, kapag walang bagong power producer na pumasok sa Mindanao, either kukulangin na to or hindi na papasok ang mga investors na malalaki,” MinDA Secretary Leo Tereso Magno said during the Habi at Kape media forum on Dec. 4.
Magno said Mindanao can expect a power shortage if its supply won’t meet the demand, especially if there’s constant trickling of investments in two to three years. He added this is one of the priorities of the agency as investors would primarily ask about the power availability in the region before expressing interest.
“They will put their industry here, create projects, if we do not have enough power, how are we going to sustain them,” he stressed.
He added there are a number of interested energy companies, with three or four from Singapore and Japan.
“Tayo naman trabaho natin na dapat siguraduhin, paano tayo mag-imbita ng investors sa ating lugar but hindi naman tayo maka provide ng tamang pangangailangan nila, hindi tutuloy at hindi papasok yan,” Magno stressed.
Magno said there are ongoing talks between the agency and the Department of Energy to address the matter.
Engr. Rapha Julysses Perez, DOE Mindanao senior science research specialist earlier said in Kapehan sa Dabaw on Dec 2, that if there’s no additional base load generating capacity, the supply count for Mindanao would be “alarming” as it would last only until 2027-2028.
“Our supply may be alarming and good for only three years, that is if there is no added generation and the trend of demand will continue to increase,” he stressed.
