NGCP seeks inputs to update transmission dev’t plan
By Myrna M. Velasco – March 1, 2021, 6:30 AM
from Manila Bulletin
Transmission firm National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has been engaging industry stakeholders for inputs into the 20-year transmission development plan (TDP) that it is currently crafting to guarantee reliable electricity services, including the need to spare consumers from suffering unwarranted blackouts.
The company has shifted its ongoing public consultation process for the TDP through a virtual platform given the continued quarantine protocols being enforced in all parts of the country.
NGCP said it has been seeking inputs from all relevant industry players and stakeholders in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao grids for the 2021-2040 TDP; and it carried out virtual public consultations within January to February this year.
The parties it actively sought for the TDP include the Department of Energy, National Transmission Corporation, Philippine Electricity Market Corporation, Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines, Manila Electric Company as well as all power generators all over the country. The re-tooled TDP will be submitted to the DOE for integration into the Philippine Energy Plan.
The focus of discussion with stakeholders, according to NGCP, include updating of project implementations based on the approvals given by the Energy Regulatory Commission, which provinces or areas are covered, and when are the estimated completion of these facilities and projects.
NGCP emphasized that the updated TDP “takes into consideration the needs of the power grid to ensure its reliability and stability to prevent instances of power interruptions and transmission-related outages.”
The company noted that in spite of the lingering health crisis, it still established and used alternative ways and platforms to reach out to stakeholders, so the TDP’s updating can be concretized.
“This exercise is meant to provide updates on NGCP’s grid improvement projects and get substantial feedback from our stakeholders before finalizing and submitting to the DOE,” the firm reiterated.
The industry inputs, it added, “are vital as we map out our priority projects to address the growing demand for power in the country,” emphasizing that “this will ensure that the plans of NGCP for the coming years are in sync with the needs of our power customers and the entire energy industry.”
NGCP is currently advancing full link-up of all power grids in the country via the Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project (NGCP); and the reinforcements on its facilities are also being depended upon by the industry for the massive integration of renewable energy (RE) installations in the country’s power system.
