Blackout hits Mindanao

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (UPDATED) – A massive power outage hit large parts of Mindanao early Thursday, February 27.

Areas affected by the blackout included Davao City, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, North Cotabato, Bukidnon, Maguindanao, Zamboanga City, Butuan City, General Santos City, South Cotabato, Cagayan de Oro CIty, and Sultan Kudarat.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said the power disturbance started at around 3:53 am.

“Reports indicate that the Mindanao grid experienced a disturbance at 3:53 am. NGCP is still determining the cause and extent of the disturbance,” the NGCP said.

Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla said a tripped line may have caused the power outage, but they are still investigating it.

In a press briefing, he said 70% of Mindanao’s 1,100-megawatt generating capacity has been restored so far.

“There was a line that tripped… I will not rule out anything. But we can’t see anything that shows sabotage right now. If there was an explosion, then we would not have been able to restore it at this point of up to 70%. But until I receive reports, I will not discount anything. We can’t speculate on what triggered it and that is why we’re investigating,” he explained.

“Seventy percent of the full volume is back. It can be fully restored before nighttime,” he added. 

The line tripping started at the Pulangi 4 hydropower plant in Bukidnon, added Petilla.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said transmission service has been restored in Zamboanga City through the Western Mindanao Power Corp.; General Santos City through Southern Philippines Power Corp.; and Davao City through Pulangi IV Hydroelectric Power Plant.

Power has also been restored in Cagayan de Oro, Pagadian City and parts of Misamis Oriental.
Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, and some parts of Northern Mindanao, however, remain without power.

Petilla said necessary measures must be put in place to prevent another power outage in Mindanao. “The focus is on restoration.”

This summer, Mindanao is expected to suffer rotating 3-hour brownouts because of an expected shortage of around 170 megawatts.  – Rappler.com