Palawan’s power, transmission projects cleared

By Alena Mae S. Flores – June 16, 2019 at 07:35 pm
from manilastandard.net

Several projects of power and transmission plans of state-run National Power Corp. in Palawan were certified as energy projects of national significance by the Energy Investment Coordination Council of the Department of Energy.

Napocor said in a statement over the weekend the certification was granted to the Palawan island service delivery improvement projects which consisted of capacity additions to eight existing Small Power Utilities Group plants and installation of new generating sets to 18 new areas with a combined capacity of 5.3 megawatts. The projects are expected to improve supply reliability in the island.

“With the priority status from EICC–DoE, we hope to expedite the bidding, awarding and implementation process of the said projects,” Napocor president and chief executive officer Pio Benavidez said.

Existing projects covered by the EICC certificate include Agutaya Diesel Power Plant, Araceli DPP, Balabac DPP, Cagayancillo DPP, Culion DPP, Cuyo DPP, Linapacan DPP and Rizal DPP.

Meanwhile, the new areas where power facilities will be established are located in the island or far-flung villages in the municipalities of Taytay (fpur areas), Cuyo (two areas), Coron (two areas), Linapacan (two areas), Balabac (two areas), Araceli, Culion, Agutaya, El Nido, Busuanga and San Vicente.

Another certificate on EPNS was granted to Napocor’s Palawan grid development projects consisting of nine transmission and substation projects.

These are the Brooke’s Point to Bataraza transmission line, Taytay to El Nido, Alimanguhan Swtiching Station project, Alimanguhan Switching Station to San Vicente transmission line, Bataraza substation project, Brooke’s Point substation expansion project, and substations in El Nido, San Vicente and Taytay.

“These transmission line projects will complete the backbone transmission system of the province, and strengthen power reliability and stability,” said Benavidez.

Palawan, being the fifth largest island in the Philippines and which spans to 434 kilometers long, requires several projects to secure its power supply and operations.

Early this year, Napocor garnered the same certificate on 23 projects in various power facilities in off-grid areas in the country.