ERC clears NGCP transmission upgrade

By Danessa Rivera (The Philippine Star) | Updated March 13, 2016 - 12:00am
http://www.philstar.com/business/2016/03/13/1562219/erc-clears-ngcp-transmission-upgrade

MANILA, Philippines – The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) was cleared to implement the much-needed upgrade of its Panitan-Nabas transmission facilities to withstand stronger winds and the increase in generating capacity in the area.

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) approved the grid operator’s application to optimize the transmission line.

The power regulator directed NGCP to pay P7 million to cover the permit fee and to conduct competitive bidding for the purchase of major materials in the implementation of the project.

The project, estimated to cost P933.77 million, involves the construction of 123 new steel tower structures to increase the new wind design criteria to 270 kilowatt per hour from 240 kph.

NGCP said the new towers would require construction of new foundations as well as additional rights-of-way for new sites.

“The project is intended to improve the reliability of the Panitan-Nabas 138 kV transmission line which suffered catastrophic damage due to Typhoon Yolanda in 2013,” it said.

During the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda in late 2013, 134 towers of the Panitan-Nabas line were toppled as the wind velocities carried by the typhoon were greater than the design wind velocity used.

Apart from increasing the capacity of transmission lines to withstand storms, the project will also increase its transfer capacity, the NGCP said.

“The new structures will support the use of power conductors with higher capacity, hence, will increase the transfer capacity of Panitan-Nabas 138 kV line from 100 MW to 180 MW,” it said.