Lobregat suggests cloud seeding in Lake Lanao
To help improve the water level in Lake Lanao, which is Mindanao’s main source of power, Mayor Celso Lobregat has suggested that the Department of Energy (DOE) consider the conduct of cloud seeding activities in the area to induce rainfall.
Lobregat made this suggestion during the recent Mindanao Power Stakeholders Meeting held in the city with DOE Secretary Angelo Reyes and reiterated the same during a meeting with multi-agencies in City Hall Tuesday.
Mayor Lobregat said the conduct of cloud seeding in the areas near Lake Lanao would help boost rainfall and in effect improve the water level and in a way help reduce power shortage in Mindanao.
Over 50 percent of Mindanao’s power supply is dependent on hydro generating plants which are powered by the Lanao Lake.
Mayor Lobregat explained that the generating capacity of the different Mindanao power plants is about 2,000 megawatts, out of which 1,039 megawatts come from hydro plants which are dependent on the water level in Lake Lanao.
He said 614 megawatts come from diesel plants located in Davao, General Santos, Cotabato and Zamboanga’s Western Mindanao Power Corporation plant in Sangali; the power generation is also contributed by the coal plant existing in Cagayan that produces 132 megawatt and the geothermal in Mt. Apo in Kidapawan which contributes 108 megawatts.
“When the water level of Lake Lanao reduces, you will have less and less power generated from hydro,” he said stressing “the estimated peak demand of power is 1,400 mw and now the reliable power is only 1,300 so right off you have a 100 megawatts less.”
And so, he said, as the water in Lake Lanao decreases then the energy crisis becomes more and more evident and which is why Zamboanga City and all other parts of Mindanao are having consistent brownouts.
Cloud seeding activities are set to be conducted in the city this week by the Department of Agriculture based on the request of Mayor Lobregat.
Some P3 million has been allocated by the DA for the operation that will also include other parts of Region 9. The cloud seeding team, led by Teddy Bersabe of the DA’s Bureau of Soil and Water Management is based in Zamboanga City. (Sheila Covarrubias)