Power transmission operator National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) is allocating P160 billion for capital expenditures until 2025 mostly for projects that will ensure the stability of electricity supply throughout the country.
The bulk of the five-year budget amounting to P111.4 billion will go to transmission projects, including completed and ongoing projects, those in the preconstruction stage and those still in the pipeline.
These are the Pasay 230-kilovolt substation, Manila (Navotas) 230-kV substation, Marilao extra high voltage substation, New Antipolo 230-kV substation, Taguig extra high voltage substation, Taguig-Taytay 230-kV transmission line and the Taguig-Silang 500-kV transmission line.
NGCP is planning to develop three major 500/230 kV drawdown substations in Taguig City; Marilao, Bulacan and Silang, Cavite, to meet the projected load growth in Metro Manila. It will be complemented by the development of additional 230/115 kV substations in Antipolo, Navotas and Pasay.
Island interconnection
New transmission corridors in Metro Manila, including the Taguig-Silang 500-kV and Taguig-Taytay 230-kV lines will be developed to address the reliability of power transmission delivery to the metropolis.
NGCP is also spending on island interconnection projects such as the Palawan-Mindoro and Batangas-Mindoro interconnection lines which are in the preconstruction stage.
It has envisioned the proposed interconnection of Mindoro Island with the Luzon grid to provide access to bulk generation sources in the main grid and, at the same time, provide the means to export possible excess power from the island.
In the Luzon grid, the nearest connection point for the island interconnection project is the planned Pinamucan 500-kV Substation in Batangas, while Calapan would serve as the interconnection point in Mindoro.
“In parallel, the interconnection of Palawan to Mindoro is already being studied to provide more reliable power supply to the island province,” it added.
Another P22.3 billion will be allotted for operations and maintenance, focusing on substation and transmission line reliability projects, upgrading of operation and maintenance tools and equipment and network facility improvement with the introduction of smart grid technology.
The firm will set aside P19.2 billion for other expenses such as investments in information technology networks (P1.23 billion), security and aviation (P1.09 billion), facilities (P4.26 billion) and infrastructure development (P11.12 billion).
The remaining P7.1 billion will be used for upgrading the supervisory control and data acquisition-energy management system, expansion of grid-related telecommunications facilities, further enhancements of cybersecurity systems and power quality monitoring.
NGCP already filed separate petitions to seek the Energy Regulatory Commission’s green light to undertake its various projects for the fifth regulatory period covering 2021 to 2025.
Of the total, the regulatory agency approved NGCP’s 2022 budget totaling P37.6 billion.
“NGCP continues to invest in undertakings for the improvement of the power transmission grid. We are also working on applying smart grid technologies to ensure reliable, efficient, and safe operations and create a world-class transmission network,” it added.