NGCP seeks ERC approval of P1.6-B Panay project

MANILA, Philippines - The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) is seeking the approval of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for the proposed P1.6-billion Eastern Panay transmission network.

NGCP said the project would mainly accommodate the incoming 270-megawatt coal-fired power plant of Palm Concepcion Power Corp.

The project would connect the plant to the island’s sub-grid, allowing the facility to provide alternative power supply to the northeastern part of Panay Island.

Palm Concepcion said the plant’s first unit would be online this year, while the second unit will be completed by 2016.

Furthermore, the project will augment the existing transmission lines in the Panay grid which currently has only two 138-kilovolt (kv) lines servicing the island, NGCP said.

“(The project) is essential to ensure a stable power grid network and power supply in the island, especially in Iloilo City. With the demand in the Panay Island continuously increasing, the capacities of the existing transmission lines and substations will no longer be adequate in a few years,” it said.

Based on its work program, the Eastern Panay transmission project has two substation components and two transmission line components.

“The substation components include a new substation in Concepcion, Iloilo and the expansion of the Barotac Viejo substation. A 138-kv double-circuit transmission line from Concepcion substation to Barotac substation and a 69-kv single-circuit line from Concepcion substation to Sara load-end substation comprise the transmission line components. Both lines will total 56.2 kilometers,” NGCP said.

According to NGCP’s projections, the transmission project will also improve the voltage levels in the island and will reduce power transmission loss by 0.4 MW.

“We are focusing our projects in Panay because we foresee a big increase in electricity demand in this area in the near future. The Panay sub-grid must be reliable enough to accommodate larger capacities which we can also export to the rest of Visayas via our submarine cables,” Henry Sy Jr., NGCP president and chief executive officer (CEO), said.

NGCP is a privately owned corporation in charge of operating, maintaining and developing the country’s power transmission network. It is a joint venture between State Grid Corp. of China and Henry Sy, Jr., the eldest son of mall magnate Henry Sy whose company operates the SM Mall chain.