Yesterday's earthquake, beyond the human toll it caused and the significant structural damage, also had another equally concerning ramification: The shutdown of seven power plants across the country.
This shutdown, while likely necessary, is nevertheless a stark reminder that our energy security is fragile and dangerously exposed to natural disasters.
To that end, given the future trajectory of our nation and our ambitions, if we are to ensure resilience in the face of earthquakes, floods, and cyclones, we must rethink how we generate, maintain, and safeguard our power supply.
While demand was low enough to avoid widespread blackouts, we cannot ignore how this incident revealed how vulnerable our infrastructure remains. A stronger quake or higher demand could have plunged millions into darkness. This is not a risk we can afford.
We must begin thinking about diversification of the energy mix. Our reliance on gas-fired plants not only makes the grid brittle when one source falters, but it is also not the way forward for a climate-conscious nation.
As such, expanding renewable energy alongside exploring safer ways to harness nuclear and even regional power imports can help ease the risk. This diversified portfolio will also help with our climate goals and reduce our dependence on imported fuels.
In addition, maintenance and disaster-proofing of these sources is arguably even more important, with plants and substations needing to undergo rigorous seismic and structural assessments. Preventive maintenance has remained among our biggest challenges as a nation, yet it is not only cheaper than emergency repairs, but the best way to ensure lives are saved when disasters strike.
This earthquake was a warning tremor on multiple fronts. As we get serious about earthquake preparedness, we must also ensure that the power stays on in the face of possible disaster.
