ORMOC CITY, (PNA) -– Leyte V Electric Cooperative Inc. (Leyeco V) will proceed with the construction of the P450 million mini-hydro electric plant at the Bao River in neighboring Kananga town.
This was confirmed by Engr. Juanito E. Jorda Jr, Leyeco V general manager during the recent annual general membership meeting (AGMM) here.
Once operational Leyeco V will no longer have to pay for the generation charge. Electricity will no longer have to pass through National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and instead would directly go to the cooperative’s system.
Engr. Jorda assured that the project will not translate to power rate increase as it will be self-generating. It means that whatever earnings it will make will be used to pay the loan.
In preparation, Leyeco V has already deployed data gathering equipment for the feasibility study to be finalized should it secure a service contract with the Department of Energy (DOE) expectedly this week.
A study by the DOE disclosed that the proposed project can deliver three megawatts (MW) of electricity that will translate to huge savings.
The construction of the project that was approved by members of the cooperative in their 2011 assembly will be financed through a bank loan.
Meanwhile, Leyeco V will develop new substations in Libongao, Kananga; Mahayag, Isabel; and Alta Vista, here in Ormoc. Construction is now ongoing for the substation in Libongao, Kananga.
The transformer to be installed in the area is the five megavolt ampere (MVA) standby unit formerly used in Mahayag, Isabel which was replaced by a 12MVA unit in 2008.
Aside from solving the voltage shortage in Kananga and Matag-ob towns, the Libongao substation will also address the capacity problem of the 25MVA Ormoc substation in 2014 to meet the fast growing power demand of the city.
Also ongoing is the relocation of the substation in Mahayag, Isabel.
Technical Services Department Manager Crescente L. Lopena explained that the substation is located within the compound of NGCP. It will be relocated within the same barangay but outside of the NGCP premises.
On the other hand, construction of the substation in Alta Vista, Ormoc is programmed next year and the 20MVA transformer to be used is yet to be purchased.
Meantime, Rep. Edgardo R. Masongsong of 1st Consumers Alliance for Rural Energy, who was the keynote speaker during the assembly praised Leyeco V for consistently maintaining it’s A+ key performance system rating for the past eight years.
He said that only 50 electric cooperatives out of 120 in the whole country are given the said rating.
Leyeco V is also categorized as a mega-large electric cooperative by the National Electrification Administration (NEA).