DAVAO CITY – The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) is eyeing additional power supply for Mindanao to address future needs, especially with the proposed Mindanao Railway project.
MinDA said it is working on power development target of 3,000 megawatts by 2030.
MinDA Assistant Secretary Romeo Montenegro said Wednesday the agency can provide the leadership role in terms of creating a mechanism and coordinating with relevant agencies such as Transco, electric coops, distribution utilities where the railway will traverse, .
Montenegro said should the Mindanao railway be powered by electricity, the government should factor in the power requirements for the project.
The Mindanao Railway project is one of the big-ticket projects of President Rodrigo Duterte, which aims a seamless connectivity in Mindanao. The first segment of the project will connect Digos City in Davao del Sur, Davao City and Tagum City in Davao del Norte.
Montenegro said the additional 3,000 MW is based on the projection set by the Department of Energy (DOE) at the rate of Mindanao’s growth of seven to eight percent.
According to Montenegro, Mindanao’s demand for power supply is increasing considering that the island is experiencing a construction boom.
For now, Montenegro said no new investments in power generation are coming in although the entire island still has an excess power supply capable of addressing its needs. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)
