NGCP to make reliable power-transmission services to Zamboanga del Norte clients

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WEDNESDAY, 10 AUGUST 2011 18:56 PAUL ANTHONY A. ISLA / REPORTER

THE National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP), the country’s sole power lines concessionaire, said on Wednesday it is spending close to P3 billion to address the low-voltage problems experienced by customers in Zamboanga del Norte.

The NGCP said it recently energized a 7.5-megavolt-ampere reactive (MVAR) capacitor bank at the Polanco substation in Zamboanga del Norte to regulate voltage quality and ensure that levels are compliant to the provisions of the Philippine Grid Code.

NGCP customers Zamboanga del Norte Electric Cooperative (Zaneco) and Wilmar Edible Oil Philippines are expected to benefit most from the energized capacitor bank, which is needed to ensure the efficient operations of Zaneco’s transformers.

Henry Sy Jr., NGCP president and chief executive, said the improvement in equipment will regulate the electricity coming into homes so that lights do not flicker and appliances run more efficiently.

Sy said the operation of the Pitogo Substation early this year and the recent full energization of the Sangali-Pitogo 138-kilovolt (kV) transmission lines 1 and 2 now give greater flexibility to NGCP’s transmission system in the Zamboanga Peninsula.

The Sangali-Pitogo transmission project entailed P1.12 billion in investments.

The NGCP said other ongoing projects are the Mindanao Shunt Reactors’ Static Var Compensator (SVC) at New Naga (Sta. Clara) substation and the Aurora-Polanco 138 kV transmission line.

The NGCP said the Mindanao Shunt Reactor project is estimated to cost P26.75 million, while the Aurora-Polanco transmission project is expected to cost P1.13 billion. The NGCP said the Mindanao shunt reactor project is targeted to be complete by November 2011. The project will involve the installation of an SVC, a high-voltage system that controls and maintains the normal network voltage levels in the area.

The Aurora-Polanco transmission project is targeted to be complete by March next year. The project will involve the construction of a 79-kilometer high-voltage transmission line and a substation that will accommodate load growth and provide system reliability in Polanco and nearby areas.

The NGCP said these areas draw their power requirements from the Aurora substation through a very long 69-kV single circuit woodpole transmission line that is more vulnerable to external disturbances

The NGCP operation and maintenance group initiated efforts to improve voltage in the Zamboanga area, which entailed the transfer of one unit of a 7.5 MVAR capacitor bank to Zaneco’s Polanco substation from the Tumaga (Lunzuran) substation.

The NGCP said the additional capacitor is adjacent to its existing 7.5 MVAR capacitor bank.

For the transfer of the capacitor bank to Polanco, the NGCP said the cost was not that expensive because it only involved hauling works. NGCP’s operation and maintenance personnel installed the capacitor bank.

“The NGCP will continue to work on improving power reliability and quality for the benefit of bulk power customers. Of course, the benefits will ultimately reach the ordinary household consumers through the distribution utility Zaneco,” Sy said.