CUC engines up in 4 to 6 weeks

Load shedding will be significantly reduced after 30 days when engine 8 at Commonwealth Utilities Corp. Power Plant I is expected to be up and running, said Gov. Juan N. Babauta.

“We’re a seeing a significant improvement because engine 8 is major machine which provides about 10.5 MW instantly,” he said.

CUC executive director Lorraine A. Babauta said the contractor, Singapore-based MannBMW, is now working on the installation of anchor bolts for engine 8.

She said the contractor is also working on the two other broken engines, engine 3 and 4, which are expected to be up in three to six weeks.

“Based on their assessment, it takes three to four weeks to fix engine 3 and six weeks for engine 4,” she said.

Engine 8 has been down for almost a year now, while engine 3 broke down last weekend.

Engine 4 was brought down last month.

Power Plant I has a total of eight engines, which have a combined capacity of 80 MW.

Currently, the five operating machines generate 43 MW.

CUC Power Generation manager Al Santos said engines 1 to 4 are the old machines which were installed in 1979 while engines 5 to 8 came in phases in1988, 1990, and 1992.

The newest are engines 7 and 8.

The old engines have a capacity of 7.2 MG each but right now, they are being limited to 6.5MW to lower the risk of breakdown.

Engines 5 to 8 have a maximum capacity of 13MW each but they are currently capped at 10.5MW.

Meantime, three rehabilitated engines at standby Power Plant 2 contribute 1.5 to 1.8MW each.

PP2 consists of six small-capacity machines, which have a combined capacity of 15MW.

Santos said two more machines are being repaired, engines 6 and 2.

Earlier, governor consultant and former senator Ramon “Kumoi” S. Guerrero accused the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. and the administration of staging rolling blackouts to promote privatization.

During a public hearing conducted by the House Committee on Public Utilities, Transportation, and Communications, Monday, Guerrero complained that although aware of the situation, the administration, particularly the Attorney General Office had refused to approve request orders for the purchase of needed parts.

The AGO had denied this, saying that Guerrero was pushing for “improper” procurement of services.

Press Secretary Peter A. Callaghan has also noted that Guerrero handled only the rehabilitation of PP2, and not PP1.

“Our problem is Power Plant 1,” said Callaghan.