Efforts are underway for the re-operation of the Amlan hydroelectric power plant in Negros Oriental with an effective generating  capacity of only .8 megawatts, or 800 kilowatts.

This is in response to the impending power crisis that is expected to worsen by 2010,   Negros Oriental Electric Coopreative II general manager Ephraim Taclob said.

He, however, said the power capacity can be upgraded to 5 megawatts by spending some funds for future additional load requirement.

Taclob said NORECO II intends to participate in the bidding which is scheduled in June this year by the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management.

The .8 megawatt hydro electric power plant is located in Sitio Pasalan, Barangay Silab, Amlan.  It did not operate in the early 1980s due to the operation of the geothermal power plant in Palinpinon, Valencia.

Meanwhile, the Negros Oriental II Electric Cooperative was advised by the National Transmission Corporation to shut down 2 megawatts of load from time to time as part of measures to address power shortage.

This was disclosed by Taclob who said that Bacolod City and other areas in the Visayas are suffering from power outages, which prompted Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes to assess the matter.

Taclob said that Mayor Lawrence Teves of Tanjay City was complaining about the occurrence of power outages two weeks ago, but hw was later informed that it was due to the advice from Transco.

Taclob said NORECO 2 has an average demand of 33 megawatts per day with a base load of 15 to 16 megawatts.*JG

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