NGCP commits to expand, upgrade power grid

MANILA, Philippines — The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) has committed to expand the country’s transmission network after getting inputs from stakeholders in mapping out its priority projects.

“Our stakeholders’ inputs are vital as we map out our priority projects to address the growing demand for power in the country. This will ensure that the plans of NGCP for the coming years are in sync with the needs of our power customers and the entire energy industry,” NGCP said.

The grid operator continued to hold annual public consultations despite the COVID-19 pandemic to present the 2021-2040 Transmission Development Plan (TDP) to various energy agencies and stakeholders across the country.

In the past two months, NGCP scheduled online teleconferencing cascades of the 2021-2040 TDP to the Department of Energy, National Transmission Corp., Philippine Electricity Market Corp., Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines, Manila Electric Co., and power generators and customers from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to present the roadmap for the expansion and improvement of the grid in the coming years.

The consultation included updates on the projects approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission, affected areas/provinces, and estimated target completion, among other details.

The updated TDP also takes into consideration the needs of the power grid to ensure its reliability and stability to prevent instances of power interruptions and transmission-related outages.

It details priority projects to improve transmission backbones and alternative transmission corridors, and to develop resiliency policies for power transmission facilities.

From 2020 to 2025, the grid operator has set a massive capital expenditure of over P262 billion for the expansion and upgrade of the national grid.

NGCP is a Filipino-led, privately owned company in charge of operating, maintaining and developing the country’s power grid, led by majority shareholders and vice chairman of the board Henry Sy Jr. and co-vice chairman Robert Coyiuto Jr.