NGCP gets right-of-way clearance for transmission lines

MANILA, Philippines — The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) has been cleared of right-of-way (ROW) concerns to upgrade its existing transmission line traversing Metro Manila load center, especially when peak demand has reached another all-time high this year.

Data from NGCP showed Luzon’s peak demand reached 10,750 megawatts (MW) as of 1:37 p.m. yesterday. This is higher compared to the 10,054 MW in May 9 last year.

Supply, on the other hand, is estimated at 11,865 MW in the Luzon grid.

NGCP said it is proceeding with the San-Jose Quezon 230 kiloVolt (kV) transmission line upgrading project after the Quezon City government cleared the ROW corridor of seven transmission tower sites located in Barangays Baesa and Sangandaan.

Prior to the local government assistance, NGCP said its existing transmission lines were inaccessible to its line team to undertake rehabilitation and upgrade.

“Our efforts are now focused on expediting the project’s completion, and seeing a more reliable transmission of power in the country’s biggest load center,” NGCP said.

The project is targeted to be completed by the end of the year.

The grid operator said the San Jose-Quezon 230kV Line 3 project is a critical project which will widen the power corridor into Metro Manila, and allow supply from power plants to feed the Luzon load center.

It will also relieve the existing transmission line, prevent overloading, and will ensure that NGCP maintains the line’s N-1 contingency. N-1 refers to the ability of the transmission grid to withstand a major power disturbance through redundancies in the grid system.

The project also involves the expansion of NGCP’s San Jose Quezon Substations, which are crucial facilities that serve the load requirements of Metro Manila.

Under the agreement between NGCP and the Quezon City government, the local government implemented the relocation of informal settlers living underneath the San Jose-Quezon transmission line in the two barangays and cleared the tower sites of dangerous improvements, helping NGCP secure the ROW clearances of its tower sites within the city.

Respecting the ROW corridor of transmission lines and facilities will prevent unnecessary power interruptions, ensure swift maintenance activities, and will avert potential loss of life and property.

NGCP also renewed its call for support from other LGUs to work with the company in securing ROW corridors of its transmission lines and facilities in order to fast-track the implementation of its projects nationwide.

“We’re hoping that other LGUs follow soon. The huge bulk of urban ROW issues is in northern Metro Manila,” it said.

NGCP is a Filipino-led, privately owned company in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s power grid, led by majority shareholders Henry Sy Jr. and Robert Coyiuto Jr.