According to National Grid Corporation Visayas spokesperson Betty Martinez, the NGCP sent feedback power from the grid to the power barge to start systems of the waterborne facility and check their availability.

If the test succeeds, it is likely that the barge will be able to provide power supply amid the shutdown of the Leyte-Bohol submarine cable due to a scheduled preventive maintenance on December 2.

Some areas, particularly those served by the Bohol Electric Cooperative II, will be experiencing power outage for shorter periods if supply from the barge becomes available, said Martinez.

Electricity harnessed from the barge, however, will be rationed and will not be enough for the entire province as the facility can only generate 16 megawatts, she added.

According to Martinez, the same procedure and amount of power from the barge are to be expected during emergency situations such as the unavailability or the shortage of power from Leyte.

The power barge, owned by the Salcon Power Corporation (SPC), was deployed to Bohol to provide emergency supplemental power to the province when supply from Leyte is limited.

READ: 13-hour power blackout to hit Bohol

Earlier, Gov. Edgar Chatto said that the barge will be stationed in Bohol until the completion of the Cebu-Bohol interconnection project in 2020 or the proposed island-based power plant in 2023.

READ: Power barge to stay until completion of Cebu-Bohol interconnection

He said that SPC will only be paid for its facility’s usage and not for its stay in waters off Bohol.

Bohol remains largely dependent on the unstable Leyte-sourced geothermal power which has prompted the province to seek alternative sources.

In a report, the Regional Development Council 7 indicated that the completion of the Cebu-Bohol interconnection project is expected in 2020 while Chatto also bared the same target year. (A. Doydora)