NGCP allots P8-B capex for 2016

MANILA, Philippines – The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) is allotting over P8 billion in capital expenditures for project expansions and upgrades as well as operational expenses in 2016.

In a petition to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), the NGCP proposed a capex budget of P8.05 billion for next year.

The grid operator said the 2016 capex would be spent on new and expansion projects, as well as the acquisition of transmission lines.

Of the proposed amount, P708.79 million would be allotted for the long-duration system expansion and upgrade projects.

This covers portions of the Tiwi Substation upgrading project, the Naga Substation upgrading project, the Clark-Mabiga 69-kilovolt (kV) project, the Battan 230-kV grid reinforcement and the Hermosa-San Jose 500-kV project.

Meanwhile, NGCP allotted P5.03 billion for short duration projects, such as maintenance and replacement of transmission line and equipment; revenue metering expansion, maintenance, replacement and compliance with the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM); telecommunication and SCADA maintenance and expansion; and corporate infrastructure, security and information technology.

The balance of P2.32 billion was budgeted for the acquisition of assets, which is still pending approval with the ERC.

These include CEDC-VECO’s Colon 138-kV line; the Calung-Caling 138 kV double circuit transmission line and other associated assets; the New Salong 230-kV Substation and Salong Calaca 230-kV line; Ingore CTS, Ingore-Sawang 138-kV submarine cable, Sawang CTS and Sawang Zaldivar Substation; and the CIP II Substation, Bacnotan-Mabanengbeng Lines 1 and 2 and the Mabanengbeng-Holcim 69-kV Line.

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