NGCP completes 300-MVA transformer in Batangas

MANILA, Philippines - The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), the operator of the country’s power transmission highway, has completed the installation of a new 300-megavolt ampere transformer at its substation in Batangas City.

The capacity of the Batangas substation has increased by 200 MVA from 100 MVA previously.

Aside from the latest upgrade, NGCP is also set to add another 300-MVA transformer in the same substation before yearend.

The project is part of NGCP’s Luzon Substation Expansion Project, which has a total cost of P515 million as approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

The Batangas project was originally targeted for completion by end-December 2013 but NGCP spokesperson Cynthia Alabanza said they needed to fasttrack the project to address the increase in the power requirements of the province.

Based on NGCP’s 2012 Transmission Development Plan, the company expects a two percent annual growth rate of its customers in Batangas in the next five years.

“This is one of NGCP’s major considerations in expanding the substation,” Alabanza said.

For the project, NGCP had to replace one of the three existing transformers because the particular equipment has already been repaired and reconditioned before.

“We need to replace the transformer. The equipment can only be repaired up to a number of times. It is about time we replace it and invest in a new one,” Alabanza said.

She said the original transformer was showing signs of deterioration so they expedited the installation.” NGCP started the installation on Sept. 6.

NGCP is a privately owned corporation in charge of operating, maintaining and developing the country’s power transmission network.