NGCP completes energy project
By Lenie Lectura – June 26, 2024
from Business Mirror
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) announced that it has completed a major transmission project.
The grid operator said Tuesday it has energized the Hermosa-San Jose 500-kiloVolt (kV) transmission line at its full 8,000 megawatts (MW) capacity. This forms part of the Mariveles-Hermosa-San Jose transmission line project that was filed with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) at a cost of P20.94 billion.
Its full completion and energization at full capacity are critical in accommodating additional power generation to the grid to prevent Luzon-wide power interruptions. Of the actual cost of the Hermosa-San Jose line component of the project, the ERC has allowed NGCP to recover only P19 million, or only 0.1 percent of the cost of the project.
“With the completion of this critical project, NGCP is optimistic that the ERC will act on the overdue recoveries applied for by NGCP.”
Line 1 of the Hermosa-San Jose 500kV line was energized on May 27, 2023 to accommodate power generation in Bataan with a 2,000MW transfer capacity. It was fully completed on May 19, 2024, enabling a 4,000MW line capacity. The full completion of Line 2 could accommodate 8,000MW in generation capacity, more than enough for existing and any incoming generation.
“NGCP completes this landmark energy project under the leadership and guidance of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. This marks the full completion and energization at full capacity of this critical facility, strengthening and expanding the grid under NGCP.”
The Mariveles-Hermosa-San Jose 500kV line is comprised of 395 transmission towers, 275.6 circuit kilometers of transmission lines, 2 new substations, and 2,000 MVA in substation capacity.
While certified as an Energy Project of National Significance (EPNS), the project still encountered various difficulties particularly on right-of-way due to opposition of landowners, long and tedious judicial processes, and protracted permitting process by local government units.
In July 2023, a portion of the line owned by PHirst Park Homes Inc., became the subject of a temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the Supreme Court. NGCP immediately stopped activities along Towers 170-178, stalling the ongoing stringing of the line’s remaining circuit from July 2023 to April 2024.
NGCP assures the public and its stakeholders that it will continue to deliver on its commitment to improve, expand, strengthen, and reinforce the country’s power grid.
