NCGP eyes 2 Visayan transmission projects

Manila Times.net
Published : Thursday, February 23, 2012 00:00 Written by : Euan Paulo C. Añonuevo


THE National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) is mulling over two transmission projects in the Visayas that will accommodate future power projects in the region.


Giovanni R.A. Galang, NGCP transmission planning department deputy manager told reporters that the company identified two options that will interconnect the region’s grid.


The first one is the Cebu-Negros-Panay 230 kiloVolt (kV) transmission backbone project that will utilize 50 kilometers (km) of submarine cables and 131 km of overhead power lines to connect the three major islands in the Visayas.


The project is estimated to cost P36 billion but will allow the grid to free up 400 megawatts of generation from proposed power plants that will be put up in Panay from 2011 to 2016.


The other project, on the other hand, is Negros-Panay 130 kV interconnection project, which will augment the transmission line going to and fro the two islands.


The project, which entails the construction of 18 km of submarine cables and 30 km of transmission lines, would cost only about P3 billion but would only accommodate 90 megawatts of power generation from Panay.


“The first option has a bigger capacity because there is this much capacity from Panay —420 megawatts. So instead of just installing the second circuit [for the second option] why not put a bigger capacity and extend it going eastward to Cebu. But again, our reservation is the cost of the project,” he said.


The said projects are part of NGCP’s capital expenditures that will be shouldered by consumers under the transmission cost line item in their electricity bills once approved by regulators.


In light of this, Galang said that NGCP will hold talks with stakeholders from the region as well as the Energy department next week to track the future development of power projects in the region to allow them to choose the best possible option for the Visayas grid.


“Ideally, they [power generators] should locate closer the load center para ma avoid natin yung upgrading or reinforcement ng transmission lines. But it is not happening because they have their own considerations like they are locating at the site they chose and also may mga planta na site specific,” he said.