29 NGCP projects named ‘energy projects of national significance’
By Lenie Lectura – April 22, 2019
from Business Mirror
TWENTY-NINE projects of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) worth P90.29 billion have been declared “Energy Projects of National Significance” (EPNS).
These projects include the Hermosa-San Jose 500-kiloVolt transmission line, Western Luzon 500-kV Backbone, Pagbilao-Tayabas 500-kV transmission line, San Jose-Quezon 230-kV transmission line, Bataan 230-kV grid reinforcement, Ambuklao-Binga-San Manuel 230-kV transmission line, Pinili 230-kV substation, Tuguegarao-Magapit 230-kV transmission line, Navotas-Doña Imelda 230-kV transmission line, Taguig-Taytay 230kV transmission line, San Manuel-Nagsaag 230kV transmission line, Calaca-Dasmariñas 230-kV transmission line and the San Simon 230-kV substation.
Among the projects crucial for the development of the grid are the Hermosa-San Jose 500-kV transmission line, which will add a new 500-kV corridor for new and old bulk generation capacities in the Bataan and Zambales areas, while the San Manuel-Nagsaag 230-kV transmission line aims to improve the transmission corridor of central Luzon. The Navotas(Manila)-Doña Imelda 230-kV transmission line, which includes the construction of a new Navotas 230-kV substation, will help secure the integrity of the grid serving Metro Manila and surrounding provinces.
Meanwhile, the Pagbilao 500-kV substation and the Pagbilao-Tayabas 500-kV transmission line project is intended to cater to around 3,370 megawatts (MW) of additional power from incoming power plants in the Quezon province, such as the San Buenaventura Coal, AOE coal-fired power plant and the Pagbilao CCGT power plant.
In May 2018, NGCP was also issued an EPNS for its Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project, which will see the realization of one Philippine grid in 2020. The MVIP was the first project to be declared an EPNS.
An EPNS under Executive Order (EEO) 30 will be given expedited issuance of all regulatory and documentary requirements from local and national government agencies. This includes the action of application of permits and requirements within 30 days, and the immediate and automatic approval of all applications within five working days if no action of the said agency has been made after 30 days.
“The issuance of EPNS by the EICC is critical for the on-time completion of these projects. This will enable us to expedite our plans and programs, and efficiently cater to the needs of our stakeholders to provide a more resilient power grid,” the NGCP said.
The Energy Investment Coordinating Council (EICC), which is led by the Department of Energy (DOE), declares an energy project as included in the EPNS list.
The EICC will spearhead and coordinate national government efforts to harmonize, integrate and streamline regulatory processes, requirements and forms relevant to the development of energy investments in the country, primarily with regards to EPNS under EO 30.
“We continually appeal to our stakeholders to help us ensure the smooth and on-time implementation of our projects, as these are for the benefit of our communities across the country,” the NGCP said.
The NGCP is a Filipino-led, privately owned corporation in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s power grid, and is led by majority shareholders Henry Sy Jr. and Robert Coyiuto Jr.
