The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is seeking the Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) approval of over Php34 billion in capital expenditures (capex) for its transmission projects nationwide from this year until 2025.
In its petition, the grid operator said the proposed projects are meant to ensure the high performance and reliability of the country’s power transmission network.
The petition for the Php34 billion capex is on top of those filed for the grids’ expansion worth Php262 billion.
Most of NGCP’s projects under the added capex are in Luzon, which are worth Php18.4 billion. These include the Pinamucan-Tuy 500-kilovolt (kV) transmission line in Batangas (Php6.2 billion), South Luzon Substation Upgrading Project (Php5.8 billion), the Binga-San Manuel 230kV Transmission Line Project (Php4 billion), the Luzon Voltage Improvement Project 6 (Php1.4 billion), and the Ambuklao-Binga 230kV Transmission Line Upgrading Project (Php1 billion).
In Visayas, NGCP proposed the Visayas Voltage Improvement Project 2 (Php2.3 billion) and the permanent restoration of Panitan-Nabas 138kV line, which was damaged by Typhoon Ursula in December 2019 (Php316 million).
Meanwhile, NGCP’s proposed projects in Mindanao are the Tumaga 138kV Substation Project (Php2.33 billion), the Malaybalay 138kV Substation Project in Bukidnon (Php2 billion), and the Sultan Kudarat-Pinaring 69kV Transmission Line Upgrading Project (Php540 million).
NGCP likewise plans to replace its protection relays in all of the country’s three grids. The project costs Php8.93 billion.