NGCP expands transmission in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has announced the implementation of its transmission expansion in Cebu, spreading electric connectivity reliability in the core of Cebu City area.

NGCP has started to embark on the construction of a 138-kilovolt (kV) transmission line late last year that would connect two of its substations in Cebu—Colon and Calung-Calung.

In a statement, NGCP said that the connectivity of Colon to Calung-Calung is essential to increase the transfer capability of the grid for Cebu Energy Development Corporation (CEDC) coal-fired power plant in Toledo City, Cebu.

The CEDC plant, with a total capacity of 246 megawatts (MW), is connected to the grid through the NGCP’s Colon substation.

According to NGCP, the project includes the construction of a 28-kilometer transmission line and installation of additional power circuit breakers and corresponding accessories at the mentioned substations.

Rico Vega, NGCP’s deputy assistant chief technical officer for planning and engineering, said that the original design of the project involves connecting Colon and Calung-Calung stations with substation, which is in the middle of the two facilities.

Due to the space constraints in Toledo substation, NGCP had to re-design the project and bypass Toledo sub-station, thus connecting the Colon facility directly to Calung-Calung substation.

“The project will not only increase NGCP’s transfer capability but will also accommodate the future entry of Toledo Power Company’s coal-fired plant. NGCP sees to it that it continuously improves its customer service to generation companies and distribution utilities by creating new corridors to welcome new entrants in the power industry,” said Vega.

The project, which is part of NGCP’s 2012 Transmission Development Plan, has an ERC-approved budget of P602 million. The grid operator sees the completion of the project by the end of 2014.

NGCP is a privately-owned corporation in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s power grid. It transmits high-voltage electricity through “power superhighways” that include the interconnected system of transmission lines, towers, substations, and related assets.

NGCP’s regular maintenance activities, expansion and upgrading projects aim to enhance the reliability and quality of electricity delivered to grid-connected customers like generators, distributors and large industries.

The agency is aiming to fulfill its mission of becoming the best transmission company in Southeast Asia in the next few years. /JMD (FREEMAN)