NGCP: Lumban-Bay line upgraded

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) said it had upgraded the Lumban-Bay 230-kiloVolt (kV) Line 2, which serves Batangas, to accommodate more energy through the Luzon grid.

The upgrade enables Luzon’s transmission network to accommodate additional capacity from incoming power plants, NGCP president and CEO Henry Sy, Jr. said in a statement.

Improved transmission capacity is important to enable new power plants to bring additional capacity to Luzon, which is experiencing tight electricity supply.

The demand-supply situation is expected to worsen this summer when electricity use peaks.

The line is crucial to the Batangas area where a total of 2,100 megawatts (MW) is being produced by power generating plants in Sta. Rita, San Lorenzo and Calaca.

“The Lumban-Bay line was energized through the Lumban Substation at 1:10 am on March 3. By 3:00 am., we were able to loop the line to the Luzon grid,” he said.

The energization of the Lumban-Bay line is part of NGCP’s work lineup committed to the Department of Energy (DOE).

NGCP said it had promised to expedite projects that would help industry players maximize transmission capacity during the summer of 2015.

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.

The consortium holds the 25-year concession contract to operate the country’s power transmission network.

NGCP is comprised of Monte Oro Grid Resources Corp. led by Henry Sy, Jr., Calaca High Power Corp. led by Robert Coyiuto, Jr., and the State Grid Corp. of China (SGCC) as technical partner.