State Grid completes restoration work in Visayas transmission line

Business Mirror

06 Jan 2014 

 

Written by Lenie Lectura

THE National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) on Monday said its partner State Grid Corp. of China (SGCC) has completed its part in the restoration of the transmission network in typhoon-stricken Eastern Visayas.

Last month a team of SGCC experts on high-voltage direct current systems, transmission-line design and transmission line construction were sent to the Philippines to expedite restoration of NGCP’s transmission facilities affected by Supertyphoon Yolanda (international code name Haiyan).

The NGCP reported that SGCC has fully fulfilled its task.

‘Yolanda’ damaged more than 2,000 transmission structures of the 34 transmission lines in the Visayas and affected 22 substations in the area. The NGCP restoration team has prioritized the restoration of major lines interconnecting Luzon to the Visayas, Leyte to Cebu, and then Leyte to Bohol. NGCP spokesman Cynthia Perez-Alabanza said the company has taken steps to replace old towers with sturdier and durable ones that can withstand stronger typhoons and winds.

“We can now restore the power transmission towers like the 14 towers struck by Typhoon Juan in five days because of our state-of-the-art emergency-restoration system like the ‘lego-type’ and bypass lines,” Alabanza said. “Even before Yolanda came we were already replacing the transmission towers with new ones,” she said.

NGCP President and Chief Executive Officers Henry Sy Jr. expressed his appreciation over SGCC’s continuous outpouring of support and assistance, especially with regard to fast-tracking the repair and restoration of affected facilities.

“With around 1,400 line personnel [including hired contractors from all over the country], already deployed in the Visayas, NGCP is going all out in terms of resources and manpower” to complete the restoration task, said Sy.   source