By Juzel L. Danganan
MANILA, May 15 (PNA) -– Five areas are expected to boost the subsidy expenses of the National Power Corp.’s (Napocor) power plants by Php 1.062 billion.
”The proposed augmentation of P1.062 billion shall address the full-year requirement for the subsidy expenses of New Power Providers (NPPs) and Qualified Third Parties (QTPs) operating in missionary areas,” Napocor said in a statement Friday.
It will be used to increase the generation capacity of Palawan, Mindoro, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Siquijor.
The NPPs and QTPs operating in missionary areas are the Palawan Power Gen, Inc. (PPGI), Delta P, Inc.; DMCI-Masbate; Ormin Power, Inc.; Power One; Mindoro Grid; Catanduanes Power Generation, Inc. (CPGI); Power Source Philippines, Inc. (PSPI); DMCI-Palawan; Bantayan Island Power Corporation (BIPCOR); Siquijor Island Power Corporation (SIPCOR); and Calamian Island Power Corporation. Meanwhile, the new NPPs that started operation earlier in 2015 are Sunwest Water and Electric Company (SUWECO) in Catanduanes and DMCI-Calapan in Mindoro.
Two other hydro power plants, namely Catingas Mini Hydro in Sibuyan, Romblon and Linao Cawayan mini hydro power plant in Mindoro will also be paid.
The Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG), which is in charge of providing electricity in missionary areas, are expected to have an increased power demand from 399 gigawatthours (GWh) in 2014 to 448 GWh in 2015.
Napocor also has found 1,130 more sitios and barangays to be energized.
The government office has recently extended the operating hours of some 53 SPUG power plants, while putting some of its plants into 24-hour operations namely Culion, Taytay, El NIdo and San Vicente in Palawan and Caluya in Antique. (PNA)