By
Lenie Lectura - August 5, 2019
THE National Grid Corp.
of the Philippines (NGCP) is seeking the regulator’s
approval to pursue Stage 1 of the P6.4-billion Palawan-Mindoro
Interconnection Project (PMIP).
The PMIP Stage 1 will
serve as the preparatory stage for the interconnection of Palawan to the main
grid. It aims to conduct further studies on the interconnection of Palawan to
Mindoro through submarine cable and establish a transmission backbone designed
to serve long-term power needs in the area.
Stage 1 of the
PMIP has two components: a desktop and hydrographic survey, and a new
transmission line and substation project in Mindoro. The survey will assess the
risks in the study area, present information that may affect the survey and
actual project implementation, determine the feasible routes for the proposed
submarine cable interconnection, and assess engineering risks along the
possible cable routes, and other factors.
The second
component is the establishment of the Calapan-San Jose 230-kiloVolt (kV)
Transmission Line Backbone and San Jose 230-kV Substation in Occidental
Mindoro, since the province will eventually serve as the connection link of
Palawan to the main grid. This transmission backbone will provide reliable transmission
of power in the area while creating potential for generation facilities, as
well. It will also provide an interconnection link to Palawan and the Visayas
islands, which may be explored in the future.
“NGCP is
proposing to implement the PMIP to provide adequate, reliable and affordable
power supply in Palawan. With the increasing demand for power in the island due
to tourism and economic development, it is about time to pursue this
interconnection to the main grid, which will provide Palawan with more reliable
power supply and access to cheaper alternative sources of power in the main
Luzon grid,” said NGCP.
Stage 1 of the
PMIP will run for 27 months for the conduct of the desktop and hydrographic
survey, while the development of the Calapan-San Jose 230-kV Backbone and San
Jose 230-kV Substation will run for 60 months.
If a viable route for
the project is identified upon completion of the hydrographic survey, and the
230-kV backbone component is completed, NGCP will proceed to Stage 2 of the project,
which is the actual implementation of the Palawan-Mindoro interconnection
through submarine cable.
NGCP is looking
to get a Provisional Authority to implement the project and eventual Energy
Regulatory Commission approval, considering the PMIP’s impact on and importance
to the entire Philippine grid.
“Considering that
the interconnection of Palawan to Mindoro will entail the development of very
long transmission facilities, it is very important that these preconstruction
activities be started as early as possible. This interconnection project will
greatly benefit not just the island of Palawan, but will also prepare the
entire Philippine grid for the integration to the proposed Asean Power Grid,
promoting power sharing and optimization of generation capacity within the
region,” NGCP stated.
SOS for Paleco
Meanwhile, the National
Electrification Administration (NEA) said over the weekend that 10 electric
cooperatives (ECs) will assist Palawan Electric Cooperative (Paleco) to speed
up the rehabilitation of the power distribution system.
NEA Administrator
Edgardo Masongsong announced the creation of Task Force Kapatid Paleco.
Each EC will be
deploying six technical personnel with boom truck and necessary equipment and
logistics to aid Paleco in undertaking rehabilitation activities of power lines
in its coverage area.
“The
rehabilitation of Paleco will start in the second week of August. We are
sending 10 electric cooperatives to form part of the task force,” Masongsong
said.
The 10 ECs are
Batangas I Electric Cooperative Inc. (Batelec I), Batelec II, First Laguna
Electric Cooperative Inc. (Fleco), Aklan Electric Cooperative Inc. (Akelco),
Antique Electric Cooperative Inc. (Anteco), Capiz Electric Cooperative Inc.
(Capelco), Iloilo II Electric Cooperative Inc. (Ileco II), Cebu I Electric
Cooperative Inc. (Cebeco I), Cebeco II and Cebeco III.
The frequent
power interruptions in the province were caused by vegetation problem and lack
of acceptable dispatch protocol in the generation, transmission and
distribution systems.
Paleco is the
lone power distributor of Puerto Princesa City and the municipalities of
Aborlan, Narra, Brooke’s Point, Sofronio Española, Cuyo, Magsaysay, Quezon,
Roxas, Taytay, El Nido, Araceli, San Vicente, Bataraza, Rizal, Balabac,
Cagayancillo, Agutaya and Dumaran.
No comments:
Post a Comment