Privitization delay of Leyte geothermal plants urged

In the Phillipines, Energy Development Corporation (EDC) executive vice president Ernesto B. Pantangco is proposing to the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) to delay the privatization of the the Unified Leyte geothermal plants’ supply contracts to around 2012. Pantangco said the seller will gain more leverage if there is some degree of market stabilization. The intended appointment of independent power producer administrator for the plants has been hobbled by a number of factors, ranging from the need to wait for the start of commercial operation of the wholesale electricity spot market in the Visayas and for the resolution of power supply shortages in the area.