Hedcor putting up P612-M Bukidnon transmission link

MANILA, Philippines - Hedcor Bukidnon Inc., a unit of AboitizPower, is seeking regulatory approval to build a P612.41-million transmission facility that will link its hydroelectric power plant to the main Mindanao grid.

Hedcor Bukidnon is putting up a 68.8-megawatt (MW) Manolo Fortich Hydropower plant in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, composed of 43.4-MW and 25.4-MW units.

In its application, the firm said it needs to construct dedicated point-to-point limited line facilities necessary to test, commission and dispatch the capacity of its power plant.

It is proposing to build a “bus-in” along the existing Tagoloan-Maramag 138-kilovolt (kv) transmission line of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines.

It will be composed of a new switchyard that will be the connection point of the power plant; associated lines of 138-kv single circuit 1-795MCM ACSR conductor transmission lines between the two plants; associated lines of 138-kv double circuit 2-795 MCM ACSR conductor transmission lines that will connect the plants to the switchyard and certain protection systems such as power circuit breakers and equipment.

The connection asset, estimated to cost P612.41 million, will be funded internally by the company through parent firm Aboitiz Renewables Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of AboitizPower.

The Manolo Fortich hydroelectric power plant is targeted to be commissioned by December 2016 and is part of AboitizPower’s additional 370 MW capacity by 2017 to help boost power supply in Mindanao.

Its mother company Hedcor Inc., which is under AboitizPower, manages and operates 22 hydropower plants with a total capacity of 185 MW.