NGCP expands Cebu network
The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) on Friday said that it started a new transmission line project in Cebu province to support economic activities in the fast-growing area.
In late 2012, NGCP embarked on the construction of a 138-kilovolt (kV) transmission line that would connect two of its substations in Cebu.
NGCP said that the link between the substations in Colon and Calung-Calung would help increase the transfer capability of the grid for the coal-fired power plant of Cebu Energy Development Corp. (CEDC) in Toledo, Cebu.
The CEDC plant, with a total capacity of 246 megawatts (MW), is connected to the grid through NGCP’s Colon substation. The project includes the construction of a 28-kilometer transmission line and installation of additional power circuit breakers and corresponding accessories at the substations.
Rico Vega of NGCP said the original design of the project involves connecting the Colon and Calung-Calung substations to the Toledo substation, which is in the middle of the two facilities.
Due to space constraints at the Toledo substation, NGCP had to redesign the project and bypass Toledo, thus connecting the Colon facility directly to the Calung-Calung substation.
“The project will not only increase NGCP’s transfer capability, but will also accommodate the future entry of Toledo Power Company’s coal-fired plant. NGCP sees to it that it continuously improves its customer service to generation companies and distribution utilities by creating new corridors to welcome new entrants in the power industry,” Vega said.
The project, which is part of NGCP’s 2012 Transmission Development Plan, has an ERC-approved budget of P602 million. The grid operator expects the project to be completed by 2014.
NGCP is a privately owned corporation 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.
