The Department of Energy has raised concern over the supply situation in summer as the grid operator is likely to issue a yellow alert notice.
According to DOE officials, they are “more worried” about supply from April to July next year than in February when the Malampaya deep water gas-to-project undergoes regular maintenance shutdown for 15 days or from Februrary 4 to 18, 2023.
“We can say now that we will have thin margins in April until June,” Energy Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara said in a briefing Friday.
“What we’re looking at are reserves for regulating, contingency and dispatch and we see in those months the possibility of yellow alerts,” she said.
“For February, we don’t see the possibility of a yellow alert so we are confident on the February maintenance shutdown of Malampaya,” said Guevara.
“But we are more worried this summer, starting April to July. We have enough generation total for February even with the Malampaya shutdown,” he said.
The Malampaya maintenance schedule has been closely coordinated with the DOE and other stakeholders to ensure that Malampaya facilities and equipment operate in a safe, reliable, and efficient manner to avoid accidents that can potentially impact the continuous supply of gas to client power plants.
During this period, the supply of gas will temporarily stop and will lead power plants to switch to alternate sources of fuel.
