Yolanda-hit Unified Leyte goethermal plant to be restored in a year – EDC official

The Energy Development Corp. will take a year to fully restore the Yolanda-damaged Unified Leyte geothermal complex as the delicate process of installing necessary equipments must be done, a company official said Tuesday.

 

Restoration of Unified Leyte will take a year but will be done in tranches, executive vice president Ernesto Pantangco told reporters on the sidelines of the "Into a sustainable energy future" media briefing in Makati City.

 

"Hindi biglaang one year, but as we get units to work," he said.

 

By the end of the year, Pantangco said the company is targeting a capacity of 147 megawatts, "if everything goes well."

 

"Earlier, Unified Leyte was running at 54 MW to 93 MW. But currently we're at 12 MW because we have to install a piece of equipment and will be increased after," Pantangco said.

 

On November 19, the Energy Department disclosed the main power plants supplied by the 650 MW facility – the 232 MW Malitbog, the 112.5 MW Tongonan, the 180 MW Mahanagdong, and the 130 MW Upper Mahiao – were out because of significant damage in the cooling towers.

 

Washington-based trade group Geothermal Energy Association noted that cooling towers prevent turbines from overheating, thus prolonging the life of the power plant.

 

Based on data from the Energy Department and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, Unified Leyte supplies around a third of the 1,300 to 1,500 MW demand from the Visayas grid. – VS, GMA News