DOE urged to ensure safety of power plants in Batangas

Makati City Representative Luis Campos on Sunday urged the Department of Energy to check possible threats to Luzon's energy infrastructure in Batangas province amid the possible hazardous eruption of Taal Volcano.

“There are concerns that the volcano’s looming violent flare-up might get in the way of the operations of vital power plants as well as oil and gas installations in Batangas,” Campos said in a statement.

“Apart from the vulnerability of (power plant) turbines to damage from severe ashfall, there are also concerns about the sensitivity of fuel facilities in the province to recurring volcanic tremors,” he added.

According to Campos, there are seven power plants located in Batangas, with an aggregate installed capacity of 4,305 megawatts (MW), comprising one-third of Luzon's power generating capacity.

These power plants include:

•  First Gen Corp.’s 1,000-MW Sta. Rita Combined Cycle Power Plant, 500-MW San Lorenzo Combined Cycle Power Plant, 414-MW San Gabriel Combined Cycle Power Plant, and 97-MW Avion Open Cycle Power Plant, all in Batangas City;
•  SMC Global Power Holdings Corp.’s 1,200-MW Ilijan Combined Cycle Power Plant, also in Batangas City;
•  Semirara Mining and Power Corp.’s 850-MW Coal-Fired Power Plant in the Municipality of Calaca; and
•  AC Energy Philippines Inc.’s 244-MW Circulating Fluidized Bed Thermal Power Plant, also in Calaca.

First Gen Corp. earlier reported that its energy complex has been operating normally, although it admitted that a hazardous eruption could potentially damage the company's facilities.

"Under such conditions, our gas turbines can potentially suffer damage from the continuous ashfall, which in turn could affect our ability to deliver power," the company said.

"Any possible decision to curtail our Batangas power plant operations will be based on safety and good utility practice considerations," it added.

As of Sunday, Alert Level is still raised over Taal Volcano, which means that a potential hazardous explosion is possible within hours or days. —Erwin Colcol/LBG, GMA News