RDC pushes for interconnection projects

CEBU, Philippines - Interconnection projects should be a priority by the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines to boost the Visayas grid with the additional power being generated.

Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto recently said this is one area pushed by the Regional Development Council in Central Visayas especially that the energy needs of key provinces such as Bohol and Cebu have been rising.

He stressed the objective to increase the capability of the Visayas grid to accommodate the additional power being generated by power companies.

Among the interconnection projects being pursued by NGCP, which were presented during the recent RDC meeting late last month, include the Cebu-Bohol interconnection project (due by December 2021); and Cebu-Lapu-Lapu 230-kV (Kilovolts) transmission project (to be completed by September 2017).

Other ongoing projects are the Tagbilaran 69-kV S/S project in Bohol set to be completed by December 2020 and the third phase of the Cebu-Negros-Panay (CNP) 230-kV backbone project due by December 2020 as well.

The CNP project is composed of CNP Phase 1 or the Negros-Panay submarine cable project and transmission line from Magalona to Bacolod, CNP Phase 2 or the Magdugo-Cebu transmission line, and CNP Phase 3 or Cebu-Negros submarine cable and transmission line.

The privately-owned NGCP implements various transmission and substation projects in accordance with its 10-year Transmission Development Plan. Each project contributes to the over-all reliability and security of the grid.

One of the key projects also cited is the interconnection of the Visayas and Mindanao grids.

NGCP started the feasibility study on different routes to connect the two main islands, which is expected to be completed this year, according to previous reports.

Currently, only the Luzon and Visayas grids are linked through the Leyte-Luzon 350 kV high-voltage, direct current (HVDC).

The Visayas-Mindanao grid interconnection was first recommended by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in its study in 1984.

Recently completed by NGCP is the Calong-calong–Toledo–Colon 138-kiloVolt transmission project, energized on August 22, which will directly benefit the provinces of Cebu and Bohol and all power users in the two islands.

A 52-circuit kilometer transmission line, the upgrade of the substation in Toledo, and the expansion of substations in Calong-calong and Colon are among the components of this project designed to boost the Visayas grid’s capability and accommodate the 246-megawatts (MW) power plants of Cebu Energy Development Corporation (CEDC) and the 82-MW coal-fired plant of Toledo Power Company.

NGCP is in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s power grid. It transmits high-voltage electricity through “power superhighways” that include the interconnected system of transmission lines, towers, substations, and related assets.

 The consortium, which holds the 25-year concession contract to operate the country's power transmission network, is comprised of Monte Oro Grid Resources Corp. led by Henry Sy, Jr., Calaca High Power Corporation led by Robert Coyiuto, Jr., and the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) as technical partner. (FREEMAN)