Energy crisis in Mindanao

The energy crisis in Mindanao affects many lives. As energy output cannot meet the demand during peak hours 5pm to 8pm brownouts occur. The power demand during these hours is so much above the normal level that energy resources of the island fall short. This peak is a result from people returning home from work, turning on lights, air conditioning and cooking devices, as well as tvs and computers.

Mindanao is separated from the rest of the Philippines therefore it is itself responsible for its own energy production. Power is generated mainly by renewable methods such as hydroelectric power stations. They are providing the basis of energy output. Hydroelectric power stations are a fixed source of energy and their production capacity cannot be added to meet increased demand. They are also vulnerable to natural phenomena. Oil powered plants are used to cover for the missing energy output when hydroelectric power is insufficient. But during peak time even that is not enough. 

The current capacity of renewable energy sources such as hydroelectricity is limited which means the government is looking to establish other methods to generate energy. But putting up for example coal powered plants takes a lot of time and is not environmentally sustainable. Hence, there is no choice but to reduce energy consumption.

Power brownouts cause problems not only to average citizens but especially to businesses. Unreliable power supply makes Mindanao undesirable to investors as productivity suffers from the brownouts. Also hospitals and other public establishments face the same power issues and need to turn to back-up generators frequently. 

Energy consumption is steadily rising but the investments in new energy production are lacking. Energy sector in Mindanao is widely privatized. Electricity is cheap in the island because it is hydroelectric power which is cheap to generate despite the high start up costs. Other energy sources are more expensive and people are not willing to pay more when there is a cheaper option available. This makes investing in new energy production difficult. 

Current plants are also not generating as much power as before. For example the Agus 2 and 6 plants, when originally commissioned had power outputs of 180MW and 200MW respectively, can now only generate 90MW and 130MW at peak times, a loss of 160MW generation from two plants alone. This is caused by silting of dams and rivers, deterioration of water inlet routes and changes in land use affecting water runoff. Naturally, climate change has a significant impact as weather is more unpredictable and drought occurs more often, making power supply uneven. Due to privatization and cuts to the budget the maintenance of the current plants is poor. Lack of maintenance affects not only power supply but the surrounding environment and adds the risk of flooding. 

The government is looking to fossile fuels as a solution to the energy crisis which will increase the emissions and affect climate change as well release other pollutants. Acid rains, polluted rivers, disturbances in ecosystems, extreme weather conditions and rising sea levels are all considerations when it comes to fossile energy sources such as oil and coal. The energy crisis in Mindanao is a complex problem arising from the complex nature of energy supply in the Mindanao from renewable and non renewable sources, a mix of private and public run organisations, low energy prices and the islands separation from the main Philippine energy grid.

From the report "Energy Conservation and the Liter of Light Project in Puroks 2 and 10 of the Mintal Barangay"