IPINASISILIP ng isang kongresista sa Department of Energy (DOE) ang posibleng banta sa energy infrastructure sa lalawigan ng Batangas ng nagbabadyang mapanganib na pagsabog ng Bulkang Taal.
“There are concerns that the volcano’s looming violent flare-up might get in the way of the operations of vital power plants as well as oil and gas installations in Batangas,” wika ni Makati Rep. Luis Campos.
“Apart from the vulnerability of (power plant) turbines to damage from severe ashfall, there are also concerns about the sensitivity of fuel facilities in the province to recurring volcanic tremors,” dagdag pa niya.
Ayon kay Campos, may pitong power plants na matatagpuan sa Batangas, na may kabuuang installed capacity na 4,305 megawatts (MW), at bumubuo sa one-third ng power generating capacity ng Luzon.
Ang naturang power plants ay kinabibilangan ng First Gen Corp.’s 1,000-MW Sta. Rita Combined Cycle Power Plant, 500-MW San Lorenzo Combined Cycle Power Plant, 414-MW San Gabriel Combined Cycle Power Plant, at 97-MW Avion Open Cycle Power Plant, pawang sa Batangas City; SMC Global Power Holdings Corp.’s 1,200-MW Ilijan Combined Cycle Power Plant, sa Batangas City; Semirara Mining and Power Corp.’s 850-MW Coal-Fired Power Plant sa Municipality of Calaca; at AC Energy Philippines Inc.’s 244-MW Circulating Fluidized Bed Thermal Power Plant, sa Calaca.
Naunang iniulat ng First Gen Corp. na normal na nag-ooperate ang kanilang energy complex, bagama’t inamin nito na maaaring makapinsala ang mapanganib na pagsabog sa mga pasilidad ng kompanya.
“Under such conditions, our gas turbines can potentially suffer damage from the continuous ashfall, which in turn could affect our ability to deliver power,” anang kompanya.
“Any possible decision to curtail our Batangas power plant operations will be based on safety and good utility practice considerations,” dagdag pa nito.
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