NGCP starts Binga substation rehab

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) is embarking on a P404-million rehabilitation of the Binga substation in Benguet to accommodate the increase in the generating capacities of the 225-megawatt Ambuklao and Binga hydroelectric power plants in the province.

According to NGCP, this will be the first of the four phases of the Ambuklao-Binga-San Manuel 230-kilovolt transmission project.

The whole project, NGCP said, would involve the replacement of old power circuit breakers and associated equipment; installation, testing and commissioning of a new 50-megavolt ampere power transformer; and the construction of control building, pump house and access roads.

The first phase (Binga substation rehab) is targeted for completion by the first quarter of next year.

NGCP underscored the significance of the transmission project, which will upgrade the existing line to maintain the provision of the so-called N-1 contingency, which refers to the ability of the main grid to withstand the loss of a major system component or power plant with minimal disruption to the grid.

The project also took into consideration the increase in the capacity of the hydropower plants in the area, particularly the Ambuklao and Binga hydroelectric power plants.

SN Aboitiz Power (SNAP) spent $280 million for the rehabilitation of these facilities. It was only in October last year that SNAP had re-commissioned the Ambuklao facility, which finally started running at 105 MW after having been mothballed in the last 12 years.

The Binga facilities are still undergoing refurbishment to increase the capacity to 120 MW from 100 MW.

NGCP, the country’s private transmission operator, has earmarked P48 billion for various transmission projects from 2011 to 2015, to further improve the efficiency and reliability of its network.

For this year alone, NGCP is spending P14.3 billion to fund the construction and installation of critical transmission and substation projects across the country.